Day 183: Death Toll in Independence Day Attack Rises to 25; Zelenskyy Addresses UN Security Council

Facts

• The aftermath of a Russian rocket attack that struck a railway station in the Dnipropetrovsk region on Wed. has left 25 civilians dead, Ukrainian officials confirmed on Thursday. The strike came as Ukraine marked its 31st independence anniversary.
• Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Office for the Pres. of Ukraine, said: “Rescue and search operations have been completed in the village of Chaplyne. As a result of shelling of the residential area and the railway station, 25 people died, two of them are children.”
• The attack came shortly before Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed a UN Security Council meeting, convened by Russia, to discuss the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia opposed Zelenskyy’s attendance, saying it was a breach of the Security Council’s rules, but the matter was put to a vote and his presence was approved.
• Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s UN ambassador, said: “We are extremely disappointed that other members who, when they come to the council, commit themselves to comply with its rules and protect them, have today contributed to the erosion of its foundations and practices. We call on all UN member states to pay attention to the current situation.” He added: “Despite our position, we will listen to Mr Zelenskyy, because we also have something to say to him.”
• In his address, Zelenskyy accused Russia of putting the world “on the brink of radiation catastrophe.” He said: “Because of Russia’s armed provocations, because of shelling, because of the deployment of terrorists under the Russian flag on the territory of the plant. Now all of Europe and all neighboring regions are under the threat of radiation pollution.”
• Elsewhere, US Pres. Joe Biden on Wed. announced almost $3B in additional spending for military aid to Ukraine — the biggest shipment to date. Meanwhile, in the last 24 hrs, further Russian shelling was reported in the regions of Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk, with no additional reports of civilian fatalities at this stage.

Sources: Pravda, Newsbud, President of Ukraine, and Associated Press.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Daily Mail. Western media continues to portray Ukraine as a sainted nation that can do no wrong, while the Russian military is vilified as a threat to global stability. However, given that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been under the control of Russian forces since early March, Kyiv’s forces are far more likely to be the ones shelling it. Are we really to believe the Russians are shelling themselves?
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by President of Ukraine. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has turned the territory around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant into a war zone, placing the world at risk of nuclear catastrophe. Russia must unconditionally leave the plant and let officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency permanently take control of the situation.

Predictions