The fourth reactor of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant was recently disconnected from the main power source as a result of a mine explosion, the press service of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported.

They explained that the explosion occurred on the evening of October 30 behind the fence along the perimeter of the ZNPP, as a result of which the external power line with a voltage of 750 kV was cut off.

The IAEA assured that the power unit, cut off from the main power line, receives electricity for cooling and the necessary operation through the backup line.

However, they did not specify who carried out the shelling.

“This new incident highlighted the instability of the situation at this facility in terms of nuclear security ... against the backdrop of the current military conflict,” the organization said.

The press service of the international agency added that the station staff have to work in very difficult conditions in order to prevent repeated power outages, such as those observed in early October.

However, the situation with the facility's power supply "is still extremely unstable," the IAEA stated.

Risk of catastrophe

Russia has repeatedly stated that the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhya NPP is hindered by provocations organized by the Kyiv authorities.

In particular, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on October 30 that the Ukrainian military continued to shell the area with artillery.

“Despite the presence of representatives of the IAEA at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the Kyiv regime continues provocations in order to create a threat of a man-made disaster.

During the day, three shellings by artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine of the city of Energodar and the territory adjacent to the station were recorded,» the ministry said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also warns about the threat of a man-made disaster as a result of the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which may affect Europe as well.

“The Kiev regime ... carries out attacks against its (ZAES. -

RT

) critical infrastructure, threatening Europe with a man-made disaster and the death of thousands of civilians ... We call on the Zelensky regime and its Western sponsors to stop reckless and threatening provocations against the ZAES, which can lead to the most serious consequences," the ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement dated October 31.

As Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, said during a briefing on October 24, in the event of an emergency at the ZNPP, a radioactive release could cover almost all of Europe.

“The forecast of the development of the radiation situation carried out by our specialists, subsequently confirmed by relevant European scientific organizations, showed that the release of radioactive substances will affect almost all of Europe,” he specified.

According to the IAEA, four of the six ZNPP reactors are currently in a cold shutdown state, one is in a hot shutdown to ensure the operation of the station, and another one is now being heated up for the same purpose.

In general, the station today does not generate electricity.

As explained in early October by the head of the administration of Energodar Alexander Volga, the reactors were stopped while the station infrastructure was being restored after massive shelling by Ukrainian troops.

  • Ukrainian military firing artillery

  • AP

  • © LIBKOS

Shifting Responsibility

Meanwhile, Kyiv is trying in every possible way to absolve itself of responsibility for what is happening around the ZNPP.

They claim that Russia is allegedly shelling the station and that it also poses the main threat to the security of the facility.

In addition, the Ukrainian leadership is suggesting to Western allies that the continued presence of the nuclear power plant under the control of Russian forces may force Ukraine to stop supplying electricity to Europe.

In particular, this was pointed out by President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking on October 6 in an online format in front of the Australian non-governmental think tank Lowy Institute.

“We can provide … Europe with a lot of cheap electricity during the winter heating period, and they are counting on it.

We are already giving it now, and Europe is very happy.

But everyone understands for sure, and Russia has calculations… that at some point we will turn off the supply of electricity to Europe.

We simply won't be able to do it because we won't have enough to heat our houses.

And that time is drawing near,” he said.

The politician stressed that the non-delivery of electricity from the Zaporozhye NPP could turn into a crisis not only for Ukraine, but for the whole of Europe.

Zelensky made a similar statement in an address to the European Council on October 20.

According to him, only after the removal of the Russian military from the ZNPP, Ukraine will be able to return to the export of electricity to its European neighbors.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted to Ukraine's constant accusations against the Russian Federation regarding the situation with the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

“They are constantly hinting that we are shelling the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

Well, they're completely crazy, aren't they?

We control this nuclear power plant,” Putin said at a plenary meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club on October 27.

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club

  • RIA News

  • © Pavel Byrkin

The Russian leader also noted the absurdity of the situation with accusations against the Russian Federation in conditions when Moscow agreed to the presence of representatives of the IAEA at the station.

“They live right on the territory of the nuclear power plant.

They see with their own eyes what is happening, who is shooting and where the shells are coming from.

After all, no one is talking about the fact that Ukrainian troops are shelling a nuclear power plant - no one.

And they are whipping up a stir, blaming Russia for this, ”Putin stressed.

Against this backdrop, he suggested that the West is “aspiring to some kind of nuclear incident” in Ukraine in order to place the responsibility on Russia and inflate a new round of the fight against it.

“I just don’t see any other point,” the president said.

In the interests of the West

Experts believe that Kyiv's ongoing provocations regarding the ZNPP are an attempt to keep the Western allies' waning interest in the conflict.

At the same time, the lack of condemnation of the actions of the Ukrainian authorities by the West indicates its unwillingness to admit the obvious - support for the regime, which has switched to terrorist methods to achieve its goals, analysts are sure.

“The IAEA, despite all the declared openness to cooperation with both Ukraine and Russia, still remains an organization under the influence of such players as the United States, Great Britain and others like them.

That is why they do not disclose the identity of the mine that disrupted the power supply line of the power unit, because it is obvious.

But the disclosure of this information is contrary to the interests of the West, so it is hushed up, ”explained Yuri Kot, political scientist, dean of the faculty of media communications at the Moscow State Institute of Cinematography, in an interview with RT.

Oleg Nemensky, an expert from the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, agrees with his opinion.

According to the analyst, a direct reference to the party responsible for the incident is politically unfavorable for those who control the work of the IAEA.

“Kyiv is confronting the Russian Federation on behalf of the West and is fighting for its interests.

Accordingly, it would be strange to make accusations against their own weapons, which is Ukraine.

It is unprofitable for the West to blame Kyiv for anything, ”he said in a conversation with RT.

  • IAEA headquarters in Vienna

  • Legion Media

  • © Daniel Kalker

Meanwhile, Yuriy Kot believes that the Kyiv authorities, while authorizing further shelling of the ZNPP, are not completely independent in their actions.

“Representatives of Western intelligence agencies work here, controlling and advising representatives of Kyiv.

In the West, apparently, they decided to build a catastrophe, for which Russia would be blamed.

At the same time, the overseas curators are not interested in the consequences, since they believe that they will not affect them.

The main thing is that there should be a reason to once again stigmatize the Russian Federation, ”the political scientist said.

In turn, in Kyiv, they really hope that Europe, in the face of the threat of a nuclear incident, will be able to find some tools to influence Russia so that it retreats from the ZNPP, which the Ukrainian authorities consider as a source of income, Oleg Nemensky is sure.

“Electricity from this station is of fundamental importance for Ukraine and its economy.

By shelling the object, Kyiv also hopes that Russia will consider the further protection of the station too risky and unprofitable and retreat from it.

What can be presented as a major strategic victory.

In addition, the ownership of the ZNPP will allow Kyiv to export electricity to Europe, which in the conditions of the approaching winter is a good source of income,” the analyst concluded.