Zaporizhia, Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant, bombed again


kyiv and Moscow accused each other on Thursday of new bombings at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Ukraine and Europe, occupied by Russia, the Ukrainian operator referring to “five strikes” near a deposit of radioactive substances . “Five new strikes were reported in the direct vicinity of a depot of radioactive substances,” said the Ukrainian state company Energoatom, accusing the Russian forces.

A pro-Russian official, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the administration installed by Moscow in this occupied region of southern Ukraine, for his part questioned on Telegram “the fighters (of Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky”, evoking him also five strikes in the same place and in the same terms. “The grass caught fire in a small area, but no one was injured,” the Russian and Ukrainian statements read.

“Normal” radioactive level after strikes

No radioactive leak was detected after strikes on Thursday targeted the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Ukraine and Europe, said an official of the pro-Russian occupation administration. “At the moment, no contamination has been detected at the station and the level of radioactivity is normal,” said on Telegram Evguéni Balitski, head of the civil and military administration set up in this region of southern France. Russian-controlled Ukraine. kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of having carried out these bombardments.

Five other projectiles fell towards a fire station

The two sources then reported five other projectiles that fell near a fire station near the plant. Vladimir Rogov asserted that these bombardments had been carried out by means of multiple rocket launchers and heavy artillery pieces from the right bank of the Dnieper. He notably cited the town of Marganets, where 13 Ukrainian civilians were killed on Wednesday in Russian bombardments, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Ukrainian operator Energoatom added that several radiation sensors were damaged following a new Russian bombardment on Thursday on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, near a nuclear reactor. “The situation is worsening, radioactive substances are located nearby and several radiation sensors have been damaged,” Energoatom wrote on Telegram, hours after reporting other strikes for which kyiv and Moscow accused each other.

The concern of the international community

The situation in Zaporijjia is causing concern in the international community. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday of the risk of “catastrophe”. Russian troops took control of the plant on March 4, shortly after the February 24 invasion of Ukraine began. “The site must not be used in the context of military operations,” insisted the UN secretary general, calling for the creation of a “demilitarized perimeter to ensure the security of the area”.

These statements come as the UN Security Council meets urgently Thursday afternoon to discuss the situation, at the request of Russia. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its director general, Rafael Grossi, would brief the UN Security Council “on the nuclear safety and security situation” at the plant, as well as of its “efforts to agree on an IAEA expert mission to the site as soon as possible”.



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