[Global Times Special Correspondent in Russia Xiao Xinxin Global Times Reporter Ni Hao Wang Zhen] "No matter who is behind the scenes, you must stop immediately. As I have said many times before, you are playing with fire!" Local time on the 19th As late as the 20th, more than a dozen explosions occurred at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.
The series of explosions ended a period of relative calm at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.
After the incident, Russia and Ukraine accused each other of attacking each other in the past two days.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi warned on the 20th that the news about the explosion was "extremely disturbing".
Alexei Likhachev, general manager of Rosatom, said on the 21st that whether the safety zone can be successfully established around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant depends on the attitude and decision of Washington.
The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is located on the left bank of the Dnieper River and has 6 reactors.
Currently, the nuclear power plant is under Russian control.
Since July this year, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine near the nuclear power plant has been escalating, and people from all walks of life have been worried about a nuclear accident.
CNN said on the 20th that as of that day, there were no reports of casualties in the related explosion.
The local IAEA team, citing information provided by the plant's management, revealed that some buildings, systems and equipment at the plant were damaged, but equipment critical to nuclear safety and security has not been damaged so far.
Moscow and Kyiv blamed each other for the shelling.
Ukraine's State Nuclear Power Corporation said on the 20th that Russian shelling caused more than 12 hits to the plant's infrastructure.
The "Nature and List of Damaged Equipment" of the nuclear power plant shows that Russia's purpose is to completely paralyze the infrastructure required to start the No. 5 and No. 6 generating units, and prevent the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant from supplying electricity to Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 20th that the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant was shelled by the Ukrainian army on the 19th and 20th.
The shelling was launched from within the area of the settlement of Marganets in the Dnepropetrovsk region, which is controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces.
Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov said on the 21st that "Moscow has seen the IAEA's extreme concern in this regard."
Peskov also said that it is necessary to remain objective and constructive when discussing the shelling incident.
CNN stated that the claims of Russia and Ukraine cannot be confirmed at present.
Grossi said in a statement issued late on the 20th that the agency team plans to evaluate the situation on the 21st.
Asked if he planned to go to Zaporozhye in person, Grossi replied "surely," but gave no details.
He also emphasized that "this attack shows that now more than ever, a safe zone is needed."
After a period of relative calm, the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant was shelled again. What is the intention?
Zhang Hong, a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, analyzed in an interview with a reporter from the Global Times on the 21st that after the Kherson war came to an end, the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant will be an unavoidable territory between Russia and Ukraine. dispute.
An attack on a nuclear power plant involves nuclear safety issues, which will inevitably arouse great attention from all parties, and can become a means of putting pressure on the other party.
Zhang Hong said that the current Russia-Ukraine war is in a stalemate and attrition stage, and the "cards" of the two sides in military offense and defense are becoming more and more difficult to play.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has lasted for quite a long time, and the topic of nuclear power plant safety will to a certain extent awaken Western countries' attention to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Zhang Hong said: "No matter which side launched the shelling, objectively speaking, if Russia and Ukraine want to return to the negotiating table, they need the mediation of major powers on the one hand and certain moral pressure on the other. Those with nuclear security risks To a certain extent, the shelling incident at the nuclear power plant will prompt more countries to resume their attention to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and increase the enthusiasm of European countries to promote peace talks."
(Source: Global Times)