Ukraine: Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russian-occupied territory shut down

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine has been completely shut down, the Ukrainian nuclear power agency Energoatom announced on Sunday, saying it was "a safety measure."

Energoatom said it had disconnected the sixth unit of the plant from the power grid.

"Preparations are underway for its cooling and transfer to a cold state," it said in a statement.

The operator said it was taking all possible measures to organize an additional supply of diesel fuel for the generators needed to ensure safety at the plant in the absence of an external electricity supply.

For several days, the plant had been using its only remaining reactor in operation to generate the power needed for essential cooling operations after all power lines to the plant from the outside were disconnected as a result of fighting in the area.

Energoatom said that one of the power lines was restored late Saturday, allowing the last reactor to be shut down.

In a statement to Russian news agency Interfax, an adviser to the head of the Russian nuclear body Rosenergoatom confirmed that the final power unit had been shut down and that the plant is currently being switched to a cold state.

The plant has been held by invading Russian troops since March, though it continues to be operated by Ukrainian staff.

A 14-member mission sent by the IAEA last week in its report called for "the immediate establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone" around the plant as it faces an "untenable" situation amid frequent shelling that Moscow and Kyiv blame on each other.

Ukrainian forces approaching Russian border in Kharkiv region: Ukraine's army chief

Ukrainian troops are continuing to advance in the northeastern Kharkiv region, approaching to within 50 km (31 miles) of the border to Russia, Ukrainian chief commander General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said on Sunday.

He said forces were also moving to the south and east of the region as they "continue to liberate territories occupied by Russia."

More than 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles) had been recaptured by his forces since the beginning of September, Ukrainian chief commander General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

"In the Kharkiv direction, we started advancing not only to the south and east, but also to the north. There are 50 kilometers (31 miles) left before we reach the state border," Zaluzhnyi wrote.

"I am proud and grateful to every Ukrainian serviceman. It is an honor for me to fight side by side with you," he added.

Russian troops have been retreating from the region, with the Russian Defense Ministry saying on Saturday that the withdrawal from Izium and other areas in the Kharkiv region aimed to strengthen Russian forces in the
neighboring Donetsk region to the south.

The pullback seems likely to hinder Moscow's plans of advancing on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, key to Russia's plans for taking the entire Donetsk region.

Russia spreading 'misinformation' on global food insecurity: UK military intelligence

Recent claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that the overwhelming majority of grain exported from Ukraine under a UN-backed deal was going to EU states are untrue, the UK Ministry of Defence has said in an intelligence update.

Putin claimed on Wednesday, without citing any sources, that only 60,000 metric tons of grain had been exported to developing countries on just two of 87 ships carrying the produce.

The UK ministry quoted UN figures saying that in fact, around 30% has been supplied to low and middle-income countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

"Russia is pursuing a deliberate misinformation strategy as it seeks to deflect blame for food insecurity issues, discredit Ukraine and minimise opposition to its invasion," the ministry said.

The update also reported that Ukrainian forces had recently recaptured a considerable amount of territory in the Kharkiv region. It said several Russian units had "likely" withdrawn from the area but that fighting continued around  Kupiansk and Izium.

Ukrainian forces seeking to recapture towns and villages in Kharkiv region: Ukrainian military

Ukraine is continuing a counteroffensive in the country's east as it seeks to drive Russian forces from the Kharkiv region, Ukraine's military has said in an update on the 200th day of Moscow's invasion.

"Our forces entered Kupiansk. The liberation of settlements in the Kupiansk and Izium districts of the Kharkiv region is ongoing," the Ukrainian military said in a general battlefield update.

Ukraine has recaptured about 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles) from Moscow's forces in recent days, the update said.

Ukraine's army chief, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said separately that 3,000 square kilometers had been recaptured since the start of September.

Russia first said it was sending reinforcements to the Kharkiv region. On Saturday, however, it announced it was transferring troops from there to the Donetsk region to help in Moscow's bid to seize it in its entirety.