Zaporizhia nuclear power plant bombed again, kyiv and Moscow accuse each other
The Russian-controlled Enerhodar (Zaporijjia) nuclear power plant is seen on April 27, 2022 from the Ukrainian-controlled city of Nikopol.
AFP - ED JONES
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In Ukraine, the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, occupied by Russia, was hit by "five strikes" near a deposit of radioactive substances.
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“
Five new strikes were reported in the direct vicinity of a depot of radioactive substances
,” said the Ukrainian state company Energoatom, accusing the Russian forces.
A pro-Russian official, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the administration installed by Moscow in this occupied region of southern Ukraine, for his part blamed on Telegram "
the fighters of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
", evoking him also five strikes in the same place and in the same terms.
He claimed that these bombardments had been carried out by means of multiple rocket launchers and heavy artillery pieces from the right bank of the Dnieper.
He notably cited the town of Marganets, where 13 Ukrainian civilians were killed on Wednesday in Russian bombardments, according to Ukrainian authorities.
"
The grass caught fire in a small area, but no one was injured
," read the Russian and Ukrainian statements.
The two sources then reported five other projectiles that fell near a fire station near the plant.
“
Normal level of radioactivity
”
According to Yevgeny Balitsky, head of the pro-Russian civil and military administration, no radioactive leak was detected after these strikes.
"
The level of radioactivity is normal
," he said on Telegram.
Russian troops took control of the Zaporizhia power plant on March 4, shortly after the start of the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Several bombings of which the two parties accuse each other have already targeted it last week, raising fears of a nuclear disaster.
The situation arouses the concern of the international community The Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres warned Thursday against the risk of "
catastrophe
".
"
The site must not be used in the context of military operations
", insisted the UN Secretary General, calling for the creation of a "
demilitarized perimeter to ensure the security of the area
".
These statements come as the UN Security Council meets urgently Thursday afternoon to discuss the situation, at the request of Russia.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its director general, Rafael Grossi, would brief the UN Security Council "
on the nuclear safety and security situation
" at the plant, as well as of its "
efforts to agree on an IAEA expert mission to the site as soon as possible
".
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Also to listen: Zaporizhia power plant: "Russian generals are aware of the risks of nuclear disaster"
(
With
AFP)
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