Ukraine: risk of "spray of radioactive substances" at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
A Russian soldier on patrol around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant on May 1, 2022 (illustration image).
© Andrey Borodulin, AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
There is a risk of “spray of radioactive substances” at the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporijjia, occupied by Russian troops, warned the Ukrainian public operator Energoatom on Saturday August 27.
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According to Energoatom, Russian troops have “
several times bombarded during the last day
” the site.
"
The plant's infrastructure has been damaged, and there are risks of hydrogen leakage and spraying of radioactive substances
," the Ukrainian company said on Telegram, adding that there was "
a high fire risk
".
And, since Saturday noon (9 a.m. UT), the plant "
operates with the risk of violating safety standards in terms of radiation and fire
", reports Energoatom.
Seventeen shells
Russia, for its part, also accused Ukraine of shelling Zaporizhia in the past 24 hours.
In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense assured that the Ukrainian artillery had fired seventeen shells on the enclosure of the power plant, the largest in Europe.
“
Four
(shells)
fell
on the roof of special building No.
meters from a used fuel depot and near another containing "
fresh fuel
".
According to the Russian army, the Ukrainian army is firing from around the town of Marhanet, which faces the plant, on the opposite bank of the Dnieper river still controlled by kyiv.
AFP could not verify these statements from an independent source.
The Zaporizhia plant, where six of the fifteen Ukrainian reactors are located, was taken by Russian troops in early March, shortly after the launch of the invasion on February 24, and is near the front line in the south.
Mutual accusations
kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of carrying out bombardments near the complex, itself near the town of Energodar on the Dnieper River.
On Thursday, August 26, the plant was cut off from the Ukrainian power grid for the first time since it was commissioned four decades ago, due to "
actions of the invaders
", according to Energoatom.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the power outage was caused by the Russian bombardment of the last active power line connecting the plant to the grid.
The plant was returned to service on Friday afternoon, but Mr Zelensky warned that “
the worst-case scenario is constantly being provoked by Russian forces
”.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is urging a mission to be sent to the plant “
as soon as possible to help stabilize the nuclear safety and security situation
”.
►Also read
: War in Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky evokes the danger around the Zaporijjia power plant
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Russia
Ukraine
Energies
Nuclear
Diplomacy
Defense
Volodymyr Zelensky
Vladimir Poutine