RFI Ukraine’s nuclear agency accuses Russia of trying to undermine supply by bombing the Zaporozhye power station 20/11/2022 11:07

Ukrainian nuclear power company Energoatom said on Sunday that the Russian military had hit the Zaporizhya nuclear power plant with artillery fire and that the plant’s infrastructure had been hit at least 12 times.

Energoatom added that in its Telegram messaging app, the list of equipment that was the target of the attacks showed that the attackers “exactly targeted and damaged the infrastructure necessary for the restart of the 5th and 6th energy units” and that production was back. Electricity to meet Ukraine’s needs.

Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of bombing the nuclear complex in southern Ukraine, considered the largest in Europe, and has been occupied by the Russian military for several months.

exchange of blame

“The Kyiv regime does not reduce the provocations that will pose a catastrophic threat at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Russian statement said that on Saturday and Sunday, Ukrainian forces launched more than 20 “large-caliber rockets” at the factory. According to the same source, the weapons would explode between energy blocks 4 and 5 and target the roof of a “special building” located next to these blocks.

Renat Kartchaa, head of Russian nuclear power producer Rosenergoatom, quoted by the official TASS agency, said this “special building” houses a nuclear fuel depot. Despite these bombings, it was stated that the radiation level in the area where the power plant is located remained at normal levels.

The Ukrainian nuclear agency accused Russia of bombing the plant’s facilities.

“On the morning of November 20, 2022, as a result of numerous Russian bombings, at least 12 attacks on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant site were recorded,” Energoatom said. The whole world is at risk”

IAEA: “Unacceptable”

Rafael Grossi, Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported that “strong explosions” occurred in the region.

The statement said, “The information is extremely disturbing. Explosions have occurred at the site of this large nuclear power plant and this is absolutely unacceptable.” “Whoever is behind these attacks must stop immediately. As I have said many times, stop playing with fire,” Rossi protested.

Invading Ukraine on February 24, Russia occupied the area where the nuclear complex is located militarily. Russian President Vladimir Putin has even claimed the annexation of Zaporiza along with four Ukrainian territories.

For several months Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of bombing the Russian-controlled area not far from the front lines of the war.

The Élysée Palace said that French President Emmanuel Macron met with Rafael Grossi of the IAEA on Sunday to discuss the situation at the Zaporizh nuclear power plant.

Following this meeting, the French presidency added that the French president will “probably meet this afternoon” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

(with AFP)