The Ukrainian nuclear energy company Energoatom today warned of new Russian attacks on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, while assessing the risk of “radioactive spraying” in that complex, occupied by Russian troops.
“In the last 24 hours, Russian troops have bombed the grounds of the Zaporizhia nuclear plant. We are assessing the damage,” Energoatom reported, through its Telegram account, a day after the plant’s connection with Ukraine’s electrical system.
Previously, the Russian authorities of that Ukrainian region had denounced, on their part, Ukrainian attacks near the atomic power station, the mayor of Europe.
Energoatom reported yesterday the reestablishment of the connection of one of its reactors with the Ukrainian power line, which was followed this Saturday by the reactivation of a second reactor.
On Thursday, the plant had been completely disconnected from the network, after a fire was detected and amid reports of attacks by both parties.
The president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, summoned the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last night to arrive “as soon as possible” at the plant to avoid new risks.
“The situation remains very risky and dangerous. Any repetition of yesterday’s events, that is, any disconnection of the plant from the grid, any action by Russia that could trigger the shutdown of the reactors, will put the plant again. one step away from disaster,” he said.
Zelensky stressed that his country’s nuclear scientists have managed to protect the plant “from the worst case scenario, which is constantly being provoked by Russian forces.”
The mission could reach Ukrainian territory “in the next few days” after the director general of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, confirmed on Thursday, from Paris, a principle of agreement with kyiv and Moscow, which opposes, instead, that the presence of the UN agency is permanent.
