Poland and Finland want to host NATO nuclear weapons as a safeguard against Russian threats

In Ukraine, more than 50 graves were found in a mass grave in Lyman, the strategic city in the east of the country, recently liberated by Kiev troops.

They continue to recapture other territories in the south. This is after President Vladimir Putin officially included the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant on the list of Russian federal assets.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv claims that the decree is not valid.

Meanwhile, Poland is negotiating with the United States to participate in NATO’s nuclear weapons hosting program as a safeguard against growing threats from Russia.

The announcement was made by the Polish president.

If the Kremlin starts a nuclear war, those responsible “will be cursed all over the world,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview. But, he continued, “the biggest problem is that we do not have nuclear weapons. There is an opportunity to participate in the nuclear weapons hosting program. I have asked American leaders if they are considering such a possibility. The subject is open” – President Duda also said.

And the Finnish president has suggested that his country could host nuclear weapons of some NATO powers, stressing that there is no conditionality for Finland to join the North Atlantic Alliance.

Karine Jean-Pierre, representative of the White House: “We take very seriously nuclear weapons, or the “rattling of nuclear sabers” on the part of Moscow. But, I want to state here, we have no indication that Russia is preparing for the imminent use of nuclear weapons.”

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin signed a decree ordering the Russian government to take control of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and make it “federal property”.

Shortly after this announcement, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency left for Kyiv to discuss the creation of a protection zone around the plant. Then he will go to Moscow.

The nuclear-electric complex is under the control of Russian troops, but has been operated by Ukrainian personnel until now.

According to the BBC, they were threatened that they could be forced to fight on the side of the Russians if they did not sign the documents regarding their transfer to work for the Russian state company Rosatom.

Others told foreign journalists they feared they would be kidnapped and tortured or killed by Russian forces occupying the nuclear plant and the nearby town of Enerhodar.

Oleksii was in charge of controlling the turbines. He managed to flee there in June when he learned that he was wanted by Russian troops. The man asked that his full name not be published for fear of reprisals.

Oleksii, former employee of the Zaporozhye power plant: “It was very difficult from a psychological point of view. You would go to work and see the occupants there. Many of the employees of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and residents of the city of Enerhodar visited the basements. After that, the morale of the employees was very low. We’re talking torture, electric shocks.”

Meanwhile, the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian troops is advancing rapidly in three regions, simultaneously, in the south and east of the country.

Serghei Gaidai, governor of the Luhansk region: “Now it’s official: the recapture of the Luhansk region has begun. Several localities have already been liberated from the hands of the Russian army.”

According to the analysis by the American Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian forces have recaptured 4,000 square kilometers of territory in a week.

But the Kremlin says the military withdrawal does not affect annexation plans.

Peskov: “There is no contradiction here. (These territories) will be with Russia forever, we will claim them.”

Speaking to teachers during a video conference from the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin said the situation would stabilize.

In addition, he signed a decree that exempts several categories of students, such as those in the field of science, from mobilization.

Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy: “The war has entered a new phase. An undoubtedly dangerous phase, because we are facing a scary scenario, about which we must not close our eyes.”

European leaders issued a new package of sanctions on Russia, the 8th. It mostly contains restrictions on trade, as well as an oil price cap on Russian crude oil shipments by sea to third countries.

In addition, several individuals from the Russian Ministry of Defense who were involved in the recent referendums on the annexation of 4 Ukrainian regions to the Russian Federation were blacklisted.