MOSCOW, September 5. /TASS-DEFENSE/. Russian airpower and artillery destroyed another Ukrainian assault on Zaporozhnye nuclear power plant, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said.

"Despite the presence of IAEA representatives at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the Kiev regime made yet another attempt to occupy the nuclear facility. At about 11:00 pm Moscow time on September 2, 250 commandos and foreign mercenaries on 42 boats attempted to land on the coast of the Kakhovskoye water reservoir near Energodar and Dneproprudny," he said.

Four Russian Su-30 fighter jets and two Ka-52 helicopters destroyed 20 boats and the rest sailed back to the Ukrainian-controlled bank. Russia engaged artillery, including high-power Malka guns to strike at the remaining Ukrainian assault when it landed on the other bank near the settlements of Vyshetarasovka and Chervonodneprovka.

Forty-seven militants, including ten foreign mercenaries were killed and 23 wounded, Konashenkov said.

The first assault took place on September 1. Sixty Ukrainian militants landed on the shore of the Kakhovskoye reservoir three kilometers northeast of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant from seven speed boats in an attempt to take it over. Two self-propelled barges followed from Nikopol.

Russian forces destroyed the landed assault and sank the barges.