Vladimir Putin had ambitious goals in Ukraine when he launched his invasion. Over a period of three days to a week, he wanted to capture Kyiv, overthrow the Ukrainian government and “demilitarize” the Ukrainian army..

After analyzing the first five months of the war, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) determined that Russia planned to use Ukrainian nuclear power plants to further its military plans.. Business Insider writes about this, citing a new report from a British think tank, which says that Moscow viewed nuclear power plants as a means to achieve its big goals.. And the key role was to be played by the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which is considered the largest in Europe..

[see_also ids\u003d"

The Kremlin had three plans to use the nuclear power plant in the invasion. First, he wanted to use them as bases for Russian troops and equipment, as well as ammunition depots.. Russian officers were also supposed to deploy command headquarters on the territory of the nuclear power plant..

Secondly, the Kremlin viewed the occupation of power plants as a way to take the Ukrainian energy system under complete control.. Nuclear power plants account for 60% of electricity generation in Ukraine. Therefore, by controlling them, Moscow could influence the population and the economy of the country..

“And, finally, Moscow wanted to take control of Ukrainian nuclear facilities in order to have “lever for blackmailing” European countries.. By threatening Europe with radioactive contamination after potential accidents, the Kremlin hoped to deter direct or indirect foreign intervention..

Moreover, if some regions of Ukraine refused to cooperate with the puppet government that Russia planned to install, Moscow planned to turn the captured nuclear power plants into weapons, cutting off these regions from energy supply.. The publication writes that one of the goals of the Kremlin was the “denuclearization” of Ukraine by seizing and controlling its nuclear power plants.. Other goals include the destruction of Ukrainian national identity, the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the military-industrial complex, the RUSI report says..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Business Insider writes that the Russian army failed to achieve the initial goals of the invasion. However, she still occupied the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.. Thus, she, at least in part, fulfilled the task of Moscow. In the following months, the Russian military deployed their troops and equipment on the territory of the ZNPP.

Fighting near the power plant continued, and the station itself was often fired from artillery.

Russia still controls the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. But the Ukrainian army repelled Russian attempts to attack other nuclear facilities.. In particular, the efforts of the Russian army, aimed at taking control of the South Ukrainian nuclear power plant, were stopped.. Although in autumn artillery shells fell several hundred meters from the reactors of the station.