Ukraine: 1200 tons of radioactive fuel are under the threat of attack at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant

The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) in southern Ukraine, currently controlled by Russian troops, contains about 1,200 tons of radioactive fuel, the handling of which could lead to a catastrophe that will affect Ukrainians and neighboring Russia.

The largest plant in Europe, which the Russian invaders are now threatening to blow up, contains 1,200 tons of nuclear fuel. If Russia decides to commit a terrorist attack, a nuclear catastrophe will affect the territories Russia D Ukraine- assured the head of the regional military department. ZaporozhyeAlexander Starukh, in his Telegram account.

“If a nuclear incident occurs, not only the south Ukrainebut also (peninsula) Crimea (Russian-occupied) and Russia they will be affected. A nuclear bomb contains nine kilograms of uranium or plutonium, and our plant contains 1,200 tons. Pollution can be quite high, but… it’s Russian roulette,” Starukh said, according to Ukrinform.

According to him, the situation at the nuclear power plant “has been dangerous and tense since March 2022, when the Russian invaders first opened fire on the 3rd power unit. Russia explicitly stated that they were ready to submit Ukraine and all of Europe is in nuclear danger.”

And “such escalations are inevitable, because Russia It violates not only the rules of war and international treaties that do not allow hostile actions with the use of heavy weapons on the territory of a nuclear power plant, but also simply breaks the logic of human existence.”

stress focus

According to Starukh, the nuclear power plant is a fortified area, but it is not protected from such attacks. In addition, spent nuclear fuel remains at the plant, which can also pose a threat.

The nuclear power plant has been a major source of tension as it has been occupied by Russian troops after several attacks that they blame on each other. Russia D Ukraine.

“The obvious cannot be ignored, the situation is becoming more dangerous every day,” admitted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zayarova.

Zayarova assured that the Russian side daily sends to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) updated data on the state of the facility, which has been under the control of Russian troops almost since the beginning of the military campaign.

For his part, last Saturday, IAEA Director General Argentinean Rafael Grossi expressed great concern over Friday’s bombing of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and warned that they were “playing with fire” and that there was a risk of “nuclear catastrophe.” .

(As reported by EFE)

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