Day 228: Russian Attack in Zaporizhzhia Reportedly Kills 13; Putin Enhances Security at Crimea Bridge

Facts

• On Sunday, a Russian missile attack reportedly struck an apartment complex and other residential buildings in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia — the second strike on the city in three days. According to Ukrainian officials, at least 13 people were killed, and a further 87 — including 10 children — were injured.
• Amid renewed strikes — for which both Russia and Ukraine have traded blame — Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) reportedly lost its last external power source to a 750-kilovolt line on Saturday. While all six reactors at ZNPP are shut down, it still requires electricity for cooling and other safety purposes.
• Meanwhile, Russian Pres. Putin signed a decree to enhance security for the Crimea Bridge following a blast on Saturday that saw three people killed and two sections of the structure collapse. Later in the afternoon, the bridge was partially re-opened to traffic, and the first test run of the railway was successful. An investigation chaired by Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has been opened.
• Khusnullin said that divers would start work on Sunday to assess the damage. While Crimea’s Russian governor reported that “the situation is manageable — it’s unpleasant, but not fatal,” adding, “emotions have been triggered, and there is a healthy desire to seek revenge.” It’s not yet known whether the blast was deliberate.
• On Sunday, Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin is scheduled to meet with members of the Security Council on Monday. He didn’t specify whether the blast at the Crimean Bridge would be discussed.

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, Economic Times, and Tass.

Narratives

• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by PBS. This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin’s ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after an election a “coup.” This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin’s Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by NSA. NATO and the US have ignored Russia’s security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.