Akw under fire
Alarm in Zaporizhia: Kyiv and Moscow warn of radioactive radiation in the nuclear power plant
A satellite image shows smoke rising from the occupied Zaporizhia nuclear plant in Ukraine
© Planet Labs Pbc / Planet Labs PBC / AP / DPA
The danger of nuclear radiation is growing in the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, which is occupied by Russian troops. After renewed shelling, for which Kyiv and Moscow blame each other, the operator warns of security gaps.
Russia and Ukraine have again accused each other of shelling the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant occupied by Moscow’s troops. There is a risk that standards for protection against radioactive radiation would be violated, said the state power plant operator Enerhoatom on Telegram on Saturday. The largest European nuclear power plant was shot at several times by the Russian military within a day. On the other hand, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the nuclear power plant had been shelled three times by artillery from the Ukrainian side within 24 hours.
Four projectiles hit the roof of a facility that stores nuclear fuel from the US company Westinghouse, said ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov in Moscow. This could not be checked independently. The spokesman also said that other projectiles fell near storage facilities with fuel rods and radioactive waste. However, the radiation situation is still within the normal range.
Ukraine nuclear power plant Zaporizhia: “Safe operation at risk”
“Technical personnel are responsible for checking the technical condition of the nuclear power plant and ensuring its operation,” Konashenkov said. He reiterated that Russian forces were guarding the facility but had no heavy weapons nearby. The Russian occupation authorities in the Zaporizhia region had previously spoken again of shelling the nuclear power plant.
After the nuclear power plant was temporarily disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid after an emergency shutdown on Thursday, two blocks are now back on the grid and producing electricity, Enerhoatom said. Because of the Russian military presence, however, safe operation is in danger. Infrastructure has already been damaged. And there is a risk of leakage of radioactive substances.
“The Ukrainian NPP personnel continue their work and make every effort to ensure nuclear and radiation safety,” Enerhoatom said. At the same time, the operator complained that the Russian occupiers were putting pressure on the staff. Ukraine is calling on the world community to force Russia to hand over the nuclear power plant – “to our country’s control for the safety of the whole world,” the statement said.