Ukrainian forces attacked two facilities at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant early Monday, though there is no immediate threat to nuclear safety, a Russian official said the same day.
Alexey Likhachev, director general of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, announced the attack on Monday morning, noting that one of the targeted facilities is used for processing radioactive waste.
Likhachev added that over the past two weeks, Ukrainian forces have launched attacks on the adjacent Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Station, whose stable operation is vital for the safety of the nuclear plant. Despite ongoing attacks, staff at the nuclear station continued to maintain the facility's main equipment in safe condition, he said.
The strikes have completely destroyed about 70 infrastructure facilities and damaged roughly 50 others in the city of Enerhodar, according to Likhachev. He also said a Ukrainian drone attack overnight on Sunday targeted a vehicle delivering food to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, killing the driver.
Ukraine attacks Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, no nuclear safety threat detected: Russian official
A group of Japanese protesters rallied outside the National Diet building in Tokyo on Monday, demonstrating against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her government's policies, including its push for military expansion, adjustments to security policies and efforts to amend the pacifist Constitution.
An extraordinary session of the Diet began on Monday to address key issues, including deliberations on bills to cut the consumption tax, and to reduce the number of seats in the House of Representatives, both likely to be major points of contention between the ruling and opposition camps.
The extraordinary session is expected to run for 69 days through Dec 12.
"The real danger lies not in the trivial bills currently under deliberation in the National Diet, but in what lies behind them, which is that the cabinet (led by Takaichi) is seeking to revise security related laws to expand military capabilities. We must not allow Japan to commit aggression against Asia again," said a protester.
"I believe the Japanese public does not want the government to purchase so many weapons, such as the continuous deployment of missiles in Kyushu and Okinawa. There is simply no such demand among the Japanese people. So, I expect the government to halt this action that prioritizes military buildup," said another protester.
"All I feel now is fear. I long for peace and hope that Japan can remain peaceful," said a protester.
Some protesters said Takaichi is actively pushing for war and they expect her to step down.
"I expect the Takaichi administration to step down as soon as possible. I hope this extraordinary Diet session will mark the end of her time in office. The administration plans to revise the three key security documents by the end of this year and I learned that this could be achieved solely via a cabinet decision, completely bypassing deliberations in the National Diet," said a protester.
"Actually, I'm from Nara. As someone from Nara, I’m really ashamed that Takaichi became the prime minister, because she gives me the impression that she is actively pushing for war. So, for the sake of the lives of Japanese people and people across the world, I expect her to step down right now," said a protester from Nara prefecture, which is also the home of the prime minister.
Protesters rally against Takaichi administration's push for military expansion
