2023-07-04 23:31:58
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suspects Russia of an impending provocation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. According to Ukrainian intelligence information, the Russian military placed objects “resembling explosives” on the roofs of several reactor blocks of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Zelenskyy said in his daily video address on Tuesday. This may serve to simulate an attack on the plant, the head of state suspected.
Zelenskyj called for international pressure on Moscow to prevent this. “Unfortunately, there was no timely and widespread response to the terrorist attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. And that can inspire the Kremlin to new evils,” said Zelenskyy. In June, an explosion destroyed the Kachowka Dam. Hundreds of towns were flooded. Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of destroying it. Moscow denies and accuses Kiev of the crime.
Zelenskyy thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his willingness to work to ensure the safety of the nuclear facility. The Ukrainian head of state said he spoke to Macron about the nuclear power plant, but also about arms deliveries and the upcoming NATO summit.
In its daily situation report, the Ukrainian general staff wrote about alleged explosive devices on the roof of the nuclear power plant, the explosion of which was intended to give the impression of a shelling. The explosive devices were attached to the roofs of the third and fourth reactor blocks, but should probably not damage the reactors themselves, according to the situation report of the General Staff. At the same time, the military leadership in Kiev emphasized that Ukraine would not violate the norms of international law.
Renat Karchaa, advisor to the head of the Russian atomic energy agency Rosenergoatom, meanwhile claimed on state television on Tuesday that the Ukrainian armed forces would already try to attack the nuclear plant with rockets and drones on Wednesday night. Accordingly, not only should the nuclear power plant be shot at, but a bomb containing nuclear waste should also be dropped at the same time. The senior Moscow official did not provide any evidence to support the allegation.
Shortly after the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, Russian troops occupied the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and have kept it under control ever since. The plant has come under fire several times, for which both warring parties blame each other. Internationally, there is great concern about a nuclear catastrophe – even if the power plant has now been put into cold operation.
The International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA, which has observers at the power plant, calls the security situation “precarious”, even though – as of Friday – it has not registered any mines or explosive devices at the nuclear power plant.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyi’s advisor, Mykhailo Podoljak, has sharply criticized the IAEA chief. Rafael Grossi’s efforts to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant had had no effect. The IAEA would have turned around in an attempt to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant. Grossi would have been “joking around” instead of making the IAEA’s position clear from the start. “And if there is a catastrophe, then he will say that they had nothing to do with it and yes they warned of all dangers.”
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