► New bombardments on the site of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhya
The site of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporijjia, the largest in Europe, was bombed again on Thursday August 11, Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of it, while the head of the International Agency for atomic energy asked for access “as soon as possible” during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
“The situation is getting worse (…)several radiation sensors were damaged”as “the sewage pumping station”noted the Ukrainian state company Energoatom, according to which strikes occurred near a reactor and “in the direct vicinity of a repository of radioactive substances”.
“At present, no contamination has been detected at the station and the level of radioactivity is normal”however affirmed Evguéni Balitski, the head of the civil and military administration set up in this region of south-eastern Ukraine occupied by the Russians, stressing that “several tons” of radioactive waste is stored on site.
Energoatom pointed the finger at Russian forces, which seized the Zaporizhia power plant on March 4, just days after the start – on February 24 – of their offensive in Ukraine.
► Zelensky calls on the world to “respond immediately”
“The whole world must react immediately to drive out the occupants of the Zaporizhia power plant,” the largest in Europe located in southern Ukraine, occupied by Russian troops since March 4 and the target of bombardments, the Ukrainian president said in his daily video address.
“Only the full withdrawal of the Russians and the resumption of full control of the plant by Ukraine would guarantee nuclear security for all of Europe”he added, denouncing the “Russian nuclear blackmail”.