In the Kursk region of Russia, power outages have spread across multiple districts after a substation caught fire, with eye-catching footage circulating on social media. This incident follows a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces on Tuesday, who have reportedly taken control of several settlements, though Kyiv has not officially commented on the situation.
According to Alexei Smirnov, the acting regional governor, debris from a drone strike ignited the fire at a transformer substation, disrupting electricity in Kurchatov—home to the Kursk nuclear power plant—and five other districts. Smirnov has been active on Telegram, issuing warnings about potential rocket threats and advising residents to remain vigilant.
A substation has been attacked in the Oktyabrsky district of Kursk region
There is no light in Kurchatov and five other districts of the region due to a fire at a transformer substation, – the governor’s deputy Smirnov. pic.twitter.com/c7U35Z6MgI
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 9, 2024
As tensions rise, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has urged both parties to exercise “maximum restraint” amid ongoing clashes near the nuclear facility. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reported that two of the six reactors at the plant are shut down while two remain operational, warning of the serious risks a nuclear incident could pose.
Meanwhile, the independent Russian outlet IStories has indicated that Russia is stepping up defenses around the power plant, blocking entrances and scaling back security personnel. The rapid advancement of Ukrainian forces has caught many off guard, including Russian allies, though Ukraine has received support from Germany, which affirmed Ukraine’s right to self-defense beyond its own borders.
Current reports suggest that Ukrainian troops may now control between 170 and 210 square miles of the Kursk region, launching assaults from various angles, as noted by the Ukraine Battle Map account on X. In response to the escalating conflict, Russia has initiated an anti-terrorist operation extending into the Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod regions.
A recent video has surfaced showing troops with Ukrainian and Georgian flags, claiming to have taken a village in the Belgorod region, confirming their presence just across the border. “The 252nd battalion is in the Poroz settlement in the Belgorod region,” one soldier can be heard stating.