The Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia has been attacked and damaged several times in the last few days – including by Russian drones, according to the Ukrainian side. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is worried. The risk of a nuclear accident has increased significantly. Denis Trubetskoy also confirms that there is a risk. He also sees a problem in the attacks on the power supply, especially because summer is approaching.
SRF News: Is the concern of the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency justified? Is the risk of a nuclear accident really that great at the moment?
Denis Trubetskoy: Russia launches artillery from Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. And if Russia uses such a nuclear power plant militarily in this way, there is of course a risk. However, I don’t believe that drone strikes or artillery shell impacts, for example, can cause a major accident. The nuclear power plant was simply built too safely for that.
Legend:
Zaporizhia is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and is occupied by Russia.
Reuters/Alina Smutko (June 16, 2023)
Energy supplies are currently a target of Russian attacks. How critical is the situation?
This wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure did not come in the winter, but began around March 20th. These attacks, especially on thermal and hydroelectric power plants, occur almost every night. But last night was bigger. There was a larger attack with around 40 rockets and cruise missiles and 40 more drones. Things are very critical in Kharkiv. The energy infrastructure is being sustainably destroyed almost every day.
Unfortunately, one can assume that the coming winter will be more difficult.
We can assume with relative certainty that the winter will be very harsh for Kharkiv. A thermal power plant about 30 kilometers south of Kiev was also completely destroyed yesterday. With current temperatures around 20 degrees, that doesn’t make a big difference. But in summer it will be noticeable due to increased energy use by air conditioning or cooling.
Legend:
Russia has damaged numerous systems and power lines in the last few hours.
Reuters/Sofiia Gatilova (03/22/2024)
How do people deal with this situation?
Hundreds of thousands of people in Kharkiv now have no electricity. But overall, people have electricity for several hours a day. The attacks are very targeted. In Kyiv you don’t feel the power outages. There will definitely be power outages in the summer. Citizens are already preparing for winter. Because the entire electricity generation cannot be repaired until winter. And unfortunately, one can assume that the coming winter will most likely be more difficult than the winter of 2022/2023, when Russia launched the first major wave of attacks on the energy infrastructure.
The interview was conducted by Romana Kayser.