The head of nuclear facilities in Ukraine has appealed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for intervention to ensure the safety of 15 nuclear reactors in the country. Russian troops invading Ukraine are marching near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
The IAEA will hold an emergency meeting in Vienna on the 2nd to scrutinize the situation. The IAEA has warned over the last few days that the Russian invasion risks damaging Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure and spreading tragedy.
In a statement late February 28, IAEA Secretary-General Grossi said, “We continue to keep an eye on the situation in Ukraine with serious concern, especially in the possibility that the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities may be threatened by the fighting. “. “It is extremely important to ensure that nuclear power plants are not at risk in any way. If a Ukrainian nuclear facility is damaged, it might have serious public health and environmental consequences,” he warned.
Petro Cotin, head of the Ukrainian Nuclear Power Corporation Energoatom, has asked Grossi to set up a 30-kilometer safe zone around four nuclear power plants in the country. Energoatom said in a statement that a Russian convoy loaded with military equipment, artillery and rocket launchers was approaching the immediate vicinity of the nuclear power plant.
He added that all power plants in the country are operating “stable and safe” and that monitoring is being strengthened around the power plants.
Russian troops are approaching the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, but have not invaded, according to the IAEA’s announcement. The nuclear power plant has six nuclear reactors and is the largest in Europe.
Original title:Ukraine Seeks Safe Zone as Russia Nears Biggest Atomic Plant (1)(excerpt)
