Former Ukrainian President Poroshenko Barred from Leaving Country for Meeting with Orban

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was denied permission to leave Ukraine for a planned meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, amid concerns that the talks could undermine Kyivs bid for EU accession.

Former President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine was denied permission to leave the nation to attend a scheduled meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, according to Ukraine's security service on Saturday. Despite receiving prior approval from Parliament to leave the nation, Poroshenko revealed on Friday that he had been turned away at the border. Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not permitted to leave the nation without special permission under martial law.

Poroshenko's Planned Meeting with Orban Raises Concerns

The 58-year-old, who lost his re-election bid in 2019 to current Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that he had planned to meet with US House Speaker Mike Johnson, and the Polish parliament during his trip. However, security officials claimed that Poroshenko had also agreed to meet with Orban, who has openly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and refused to support Kyiv's bid for EU accession. In a statement on social media, they expressed concern that such talks would make Poroshenko a "tool in the hands of the Russian special services."

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on the Brink of Disaster

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was left on "the verge of a nuclear and radiation accident" on Saturday after it was unable to draw power from two of the lines connecting it to the local energy grid, the country's nuclear energy operator Energoatom reported. The plant switched to diesel generators to prevent overheating before off-site power was restored by Kyiv. Russia seized control of the Zaporizhzhia plant in the early stages of the war, and it has since become a focal point of concern for international observers, with both Moscow and Kyiv trading accusations of shelling the facility.

IAEA Monitors Safety at Zaporizhzhia Plant

Petro Kotin, head of Ukraine's nuclear energy operator, took to social media to accuse Moscow of "incorrect, erroneous, and often deliberately risky operation of the equipment" at the Zaporizhzhia plant. The Associated Press was unable to independently verify these claims. Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been monitoring safety at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is one of the world's 10 biggest nuclear power stations. Although the plant's six reactors have been shut down for months, it still requires power and qualified staff to operate essential cooling systems and other safety features.

Russian Drone and Missile Attacks

In other developments, Russian forces launched 11 Iranian-made Shahed drones and one guided cruise missile overnight Saturday, according to Ukrainian military officials. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly destroyed the missile and all but one of the drones. Additionally, the Russian Defence Ministry announced that it had shot down two Ukrainian C-200 rockets over the Sea of Azov.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to pose significant challenges, with concerns over the safety of nuclear facilities and the targeting of civilian areas.