Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator Energoatom warned on Saturday that the Zaporozhye power plant was now at risk of a radioactive leak and fire following bombings blamed on each other by the Ukrainians and Russians for several weeks.
Russian troops shelled the place.several times in the last dayThe National Company of Ukraine confirmed on Telegram on Saturday. “As a result of periodic bombardments, the infrastructure of the station has been damaged, there is a risk of hydrogen leakage and radioactive material spraying.– he said, meaning.high fire hazard“.
According to the operator, as of Saturday afternoon (09:00 GMT), the plant “operates at the risk of violating radiation and fire safety standards“.
The municipality of Zaporizhia noted that since August 23, it has been distributing iodine tablets to residents within a 50 km radius of the plant, in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health, while emphasizing that no anomalies were found. now, and that iodine should be taken only in case of radiation signal.
Russia, in turn, accused Ukraine of firing 17 projectiles at the wall of the largest power plant in Europe in the last 24 hours. “Four fell on the roof of the building (…), where 168 sets of American nuclear fuel of the WestingHouse firm are located.“The press release of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation states that the projectiles also fell 30 meters away from the fuel depots.
According to the Russian military, the Ukrainian army is firing from around the town of Marhanet, which faces the plant, on the opposite bank of the Dnieper River, which is still controlled by Kiev. AFP was unable to independently verify these statements.
The Zaporozhye plant, home to six of Ukraine’s 15 reactors, was seized by Russian troops in early March, shortly after the invasion began on February 24, and is close to the southern front line.
Kiev and Moscow accuse each other of bombing the Dnieper River near the complex, near the town of Energodar, thus endangering the plant.
Blockade at the UN
In recent weeks, Zaporizhia has crystallized the concerns of Western countries. The UN has called for an end to all hostilities in the surrounding area as it stands “the very real threat of nuclear disaster“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) claims to have access to it.
Emphasizing that the situation wasdangerousPresident of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday urged the IAEA to send a mission to the spot, expressing regret that the Russian troops.constantly push for the worst case scenario“.
Between Thursday and Friday, the plant and its six reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000 megawattsis completely disableddue to damage to power lines from the national grid, according to Kyiv, before being reconnected and restarted.
IAEA experts are waiting there.next week“, according to Lana Zerkal, adviser to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, who accused the Russians of “artificially create obstaclesto this mission. Moscow denies this, shifting the responsibility for the situation to Kiev.
However, Russia on Friday blocked the adoption of a joint declaration at the end of the UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, objecting to paragraphs that highlighted:great concernmilitary operations around Ukrainian power plants andloss of controlFrom these sites by Kiev.
As a result of the war waged by Russia against Ukraine, which entered its seventh month on Wednesday, particularly the sanctions imposed on Russian oil, as well as the partial closing of the gas tap by Moscow at this stage, energy prices have risen. exploded in Europe and the continent is bracing for a harsh winter.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Chmygal warned in his message on Telegram on Saturday that “This heating season will certainly be the most difficult in the history of independent Ukraine“. “The main risk is terrorist actions by Russia against critical infrastructure“, he said.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, whose country holds the presidency of the European Union, announced on Friday that he will hold a meeting.extraordinary meeting of energy ministers“.
The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, granted him an unlimited work and residence permit on the territory of Russia for the citizens of Ukraine, as well as assistance to the underprivileged.
Source: Le Figaro
