Ukrainian forces hit key bridge near hydroelectric power plant

A Russian military convoy is seen on the road toward the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, in Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia region, in territory under Russian military control, southeastern Ukraine, on May 1, 2022. (PHOTO / AP)

BEIJING – The Ukrainian military forces said on Wednesday that they hit a key bridge near the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in the Russia-controlled territory in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine.

The bridge over the Dnieper river that served as a logistical route for Russian forces was put out of operation as a result of the strike, said the operational command of the Ukrainian armed forces on Facebook.

'IAEA should inspect Zaporizhzhia'

Russia’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that instead of discussing absurd remarks such as setting up a no-fly zone over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP), it is necessary for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the plant.

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Russia requested a United Nations Security Council meeting on the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, and the international community should comprehensively assess the situation, said ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Russia returns 500 bodies to Ukraine

More than 500 bodies of soldiers, who were listed as missing in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have been returned to Ukraine, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported on Wednesday citing a senior official.

"At this time, we have already recovered more than 500 bodies of our dead heroes. Just yesterday, we took another 17 bodies," said Oleh Kotenko, commissioner on Persons Gone Missing under Special Circumstances, on Tuesday.

Servicemen of the People's Militia of the Donetsk People's Republic fire from the 2A36 Giatsint-B 152mm field gun at Ukrainian troops at an undisclosed location in Yasynuvata, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Aug 10, 2022. (PHOTO / AP)

9 Russian aircraft destroyed

Nine Russian aircraft were destroyed during the explosions at the Saky airfield in western Crimea on Tuesday, said the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Wednesday.

It did not specify whether Ukraine played a role in the explosions.

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The Russian defense ministry said on Tuesday that several aviation munitions were detonated at a storage area on the territory of the Saky airfield near the settlement of Novofedorovka, adding the blast caused no damage to aviation equipment.