The concern of the international community is growing again regarding the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. kyiv and Moscow accused each other on Thursday of new bombings in the largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine and Europe, occupied by Russia. The Ukrainian operator evokes “five strikes” near a deposit of radioactive substances. “At the moment, no contamination has been detected at the station and the level of radioactivity is normal”, declared on Telegram Evgueni Balitski, head of the civil and military administration of this region controlled by the Russians. Several radiation sensors were damaged in a bombardment, according to Ukraine.
A pro-Russian official, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the administration installed by Moscow in this region, for his part questioned on Telegram “the fighters (of Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky”. “The grass caught fire in a small area, but no one was injured,” the Russian and Ukrainian statements read. The two sources then reported five other projectiles that fell near a fire station near the plant.
A risk of “catastrophe” for the UN Secretary General
Several bombings of which the two parties accuse each other have targeted the Zaporijjia power plant last week, raising fears of a nuclear disaster. This situation arouses the concern of the international community. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday of a risk of “catastrophe” by continuing: “Any attack on nuclear power plants is a suicidal thing. »
Russian troops took control of the plant on March 4, shortly after the February 24 invasion of Ukraine began. “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.
It should also be noted that the Russian forces occupying the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia are preparing to connect it to Crimea annexed by Moscow in 2014, and are damaging it by carrying out this reorientation of electricity production, the Ukrainian operator, EnergoAtom, warned on Tuesday. .
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”.