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Zaporizhzhia power plant (June 9)

Photo: Kateryna Klochko / dpa

The cooling pool for the reactors of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been mined by Russia, according to the Ukrainian military intelligence service (GUR). The six-reactor complex, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, has been occupied since shortly after Russia's invasion in February last year.

"The most frightening thing is that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was additionally mined during this time – namely the cooling pool," says GUR chief Kyrylo Budanov, without providing any evidence. The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last year, the fighting in Zaporizhzhia repeatedly caused dangerous power outages. As a result, all six reactor units have been shut down for several months now. For the current situation, this is a great stroke of luck, because smaller amounts of cooling water are required.

After the explosion at the Kakhovka Dam, this question had come to the fore. After all, Zaporizhzhia, 150 kilometers away, is supplied with cooling water from the reservoir – and after the detonation, the level in the cooling water reservoir dropped. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), there is currently "no immediate risk to the safety of the plant".

Operation of power plant on the front line hardly possible

"Nevertheless, it has to be said that this is a threatening situation that has arisen as a result of the Russian war of aggression," said Nikolaus Müllner, head of the Institute for Safety and Risk Sciences at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. No serious nuclear accident is currently to be expected. "But nuclear power plants are not designed for war. No one has systematically considered: How can I operate a plant safely on a front line?"

Moscow and Kiev blame each other for the explosion at the dam. According to Kiev's intelligence, the Russians had attached explosive material to locks and pillars and placed two military trucks filled with explosives on the dam. However, there was no evidence of this. Secret services are examining the evidence. According to the British, for example, it is still too early to make a final judgement on the causes of the dam failure.

jok/Reuters