The operator of the Zaporiza nuclear power plant in Ukraine said on the 27th (local time) that there is a risk of radioactive material leakage from Russian shelling.
Ukrainian state-owned Energoatom, which operates the Zaporiza nuclear power plant, warned on the same day that “Russian forces repeatedly bombarded the site throughout the day,” AFP news agency reported.
A view of the Zaporiza nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine, which has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. photo Yonhap News Archyde.com
Energoatom said, “The nuclear power plant infrastructure has been damaged due to periodic bombardment, and there is a risk of hydrogen leakage and radioactive material spewing out. There is also a high risk of fire.”
Russia Occupies Nuclear Power Plant “Radiation Levels Are Normal”
Although the Zaporiza nuclear power plant was seized by Russian forces in March, right following the Russian invasion, it is still operated by Energoatom engineers. Ukraine and Russia are in a battle of responsibility over each other’s shelling that this situation is continuing.
On the other hand, Russia countered that the radiation levels at the Zaporiza nuclear power plant were at normal levels, while insisting that Ukrainian bombardment continued.
The Russian Ministry of Defense explained to Sputnik News that “radiation levels at the Zaporiza nuclear power plant are normal and have been checked by regular technical personnel.”
Continued bombardment, growing concern in the international community
As the bombardment of the Zaporiza nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, continues, concerns regarding radioactive material leakage are growing.
The bombardment continued on the 11th following the 5th and 6th, and some of the power supply lines and communication lines were damaged. On the 20th and 21st, the bombardment of the nuclear power plant damaged infrastructure such as chemical facilities.
On the 25th, the last one of the four transmission lines connecting the power plant and the outside was damaged due to a fire in a mountain near the nuclear power plant. As the nuclear power plant and Ukraine’s power grid were separated, a power outage occurred in the surrounding area, but power supply resumed a day later on the 26th.
The international community is strongly urging the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to dispatch an expert inspection team to the Japorija nuclear power plant to conduct safety inspections and security measures.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 26th, citing a source, that negotiations on the issue of the IAEA inspection team’s visit to the Japorija nuclear power plant had been effectively concluded. The visit was scheduled for next week, and it is said that there is a possibility that the visit will be made as early as the 29th.
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