The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that during an attempted Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson and Nikolaev regions, Ukrainian forces suffered heavy losses in personnel and equipment. They asserted that more than 500 Ukrainian service members were killed, with 26 tanks and two attack aircraft destroyed. Earlier, Sergei Aksyonov, the head of Crimea, and Kirill Stremousov, the deputy head of the Kherson regional administration, denied that Kyiv had launched an offensive.
Officials described the events as a result of a vigorous defense by Russian troops. They claimed that the Ukrainian side sustained damage including 26 tanks, 23 infantry fighting vehicles, nine armored combat vehicles, and two Su-25 attack aircraft. They also cited more than 560 enemy personnel losses, portraying the counteroffensive as a failed attempt by the Ukrainian armed forces.
In another section, the ministry described the Ukrainian operations as an active effort that failed to achieve its aims, noting continued resistance by Russian units in the area.
Allegations of a Virtual Ukrainian Offensive
Crimean President Sergei Aksyonov commented on social media that the report of a Ukrainian offensive in the Kherson direction was a further instance of Ukrainian propaganda. He warned that Kyiv’s attempts to stage virtual attacks against Western targets resulted in casualties, characterizing the activity as manipulation by Western backers.
He added that Western sponsors rely on operatives to create fake events and misinformation, stating that those involved do not spare civilians who are drawn into such schemes for informational impact.
Earlier, Reuters cited Natalya Gumenyuk, head of the press center for Ukraine’s South Operational Command, discussing the counteroffensive in the southern sector.
Bombardment of Nuclear Sites and IAEA Involvement
On August 29, facilities at the Zaporizhzhia region, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and nearby towns, were reportedly struck. Local authorities reported casualties among residents. Vladimir Leontiev, head of the Kakhovka district administration, said Ukrainian forces fired at Novaya Kakhovka using the HIMARS system, with a rocket landing near a residence but being disabled by sappers. Tochka-U missiles were also reportedly employed by Ukrainian forces.
Leontiev noted ongoing bombardments near the hydroelectric facility and surrounding infrastructure, warning that disruption to the area could affect civilian markets, roads, and buildings. He described a rocket striking near a driving school close to a local school complex, illustrating the widening impact on local communities.
Vladimir Rogov, a representative for the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, reported damage to a roof of a building storing nuclear fuel at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant after shelling attributed to Ukrainian forces from Nikopol. The Russian Defense Ministry also announced the destruction of a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle at the plant. Despite the bombardment, officials stated the radiation background in the surrounding area remained normal.
Yevgeny Balitsky, head of Energodar’s administration, linked the strikes on the ZNPP and Energodar to a retaliation for residents signing petitions to the IAEA. He argued that the IAEA mission to the station would be exploited by opponents to justify further action against Ukraine, framing the visit as politically operational for those opposed to the site’s safety measures.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reported that an IAEA delegation led by Rafael Grossi would visit the ZNPP, with the organization indicating that the team was departing Vienna to conduct on-site assessments. The Ukrainian side stated that the mission included international nuclear experts and was arranged at Kyiv’s invitation.
Additionally, John Kirby, a White House official coordinating strategic communications, remarked on the possibility of temporarily shutting down reactors at the Zaporizhzhia plant as part of broader safety considerations surrounding the facility.