FACT CHECK: Russians Fire at Will From Europe’s Biggest Nuclear Plant, Deny it at UN

Speaking at the United Nations nuclear non-proliferation conference in New York on August 1, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russia’s war on Ukraine “a brazen violation of international law.”

Blinken said the United States is “deeply concerned” about the situation at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest such facility in Europe with six reactors on the site.

“Russia is now using the plant as a military base to fire at Ukrainians, knowing that they can’t and won’t shoot back because they might accidentally strike a nuclear – a reactor or highly radioactive waste in storage. That brings the notion of having a human shield to an entirely different and horrific level,” Blinken said.

Two days later, Russia’s U.N. mission issued a rebuttal:

“We reject the unfounded accusations that Russia prevents the IAEA inspectors from visiting the Zaporizhzhia NPP and, especially, absolutely [the] absurd speculation that a military base is allegedly being set up there.”

That is false. Credible reports say Russian troops have militarized the plant, putting up perimeter defenses, firing artillery from the grounds and effectively turning it into a base of operations shielded by the risk of a radioactive release.

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[stevebillieroberts]

New York times has no credibility at all

[Andy_Paris]

Everytime I see the phrase: _"Fact Check"_ I speculate even more so!

[barrylafleur]

The fact checker never talked about who was firing weapons at the plant. That was the point of contention. This article is propaganda.

[scottdavis]

Always trust a fact check especially from a strange source.

[Colossus-Tone]

Fact check = Narrative we want you to believe. Which is more often than not BS.

[diezel]

Funny where this coming from…. And this website is funded in most part of the government. How odd and convenient at the same time.

[ayabokti]

😆😆😆 I believe right now that Russia is the least of everyone's problems smh

[mikestein]

Yeah our media has such a fantastic record of being honest

[lebonericardoramakgala]

what facts were checked here they just repeating the same thing everybody said

[Pystdammit]

That doesn't show any heavy artillery battery. That is an apc with anti-air which would be needed to stop incoming which is being fired at the plant. Stop lying

[rogerdildeau]

Blinken is Israel's Secretary of State.

[kennedypainting]

Is that like FB fact checkers. Well then, you can't believe this either can ya

[twon]

Russia hiding at a nuclear plant is like holding up a baby at a shootout. Change my mind😂😂😂

[stevebillieroberts]

Blinken one of the biggest liar in history

[fsaari]

It all comes down to who you believe. I know I'm not a mainstream media sucker

[secondarycontainment]

I care more about the borders of the USA than Ukraine's... why doesn't the PRESIDENT OF THE USA? Why isn't he doing his CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY defending OUR border and inste4ad funding foreign wars? This is an impeachable offense. FACT.

[darkskinamerican]

Fact checkers don’t tell the truth too often

[YodaMan-]

wonder what circumstances could prove nuclear power plants are a bad idea?

[MarieGoldBrand]

Military operations at that plant is like playing Russian roulette with the gun pointed at everyone in Eastern Europe

[kirkjohnson]

So what if the Russians are using the nuclear plant as a military base and a shield? The Ukranian forces have been using civilians as shields and have also been killing civilians and blaming it on the Russians plus the Ukranians are actually shelling the nuclear power plant and risking the spread of nuclear radiation.

I don't know if either side in this conflict is innocent or which is more wrong, but I see no reason why we should be helping the Ukraine government.