Ukraine: the EU fears a nuclear catastrophe caused by Russia’s offensive

Ukraine has 15 reactors at four operating plants, in addition to waste repositories such as the Chernobyl plant.

Russian forces took control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhia power plant, the largest in Europe, in early March. He was then targeted by artillery that set fire to adjacent buildings and raised fears of the worst. However, Ukrainian firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and ensure the safety of the scene.

But Russian forces will carelessly damaged facilities attacked nuclear sites, said Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy, and Kadri Simson, who manages Energy at the European Commission, in a joint statement.

” Russia’s illegal and unreasonable invasion of Ukraine is once again threatening the nuclear safety of our continent. “

Illegal work and disruption of normal operations, including preventing the transfer of personnel, endangers the safe and secure operation of nuclear power plants in Ukraine and significantly increases the risk of accidents.they added.

On the anniversary of the Chernobyl accident in 1986, we reiterate our deep concern about the nuclear safety and security risks posed by Russia’s recent actions at the Chernobyl site.they end.

Back to normal at Chernobyl, after the departure of the Russians

Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is visiting the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exactly 36 years after the reactor explosion that caused the worst nuclear disaster in history. The level of radioactivity is present in normaldid he declare.

Earlier in his visit, he described the occupation of the Russian army site – from February 24 to March 31 – as very, very dangerous . Levels [de radioactivité] increased with the times the Russians brought heavy equipment into the area and when they left. The site also suffered power outages and communication networks during the Russian occupation.

The leader ofInternational Atomic Energy AgencyIAEA is on site to deliver equipment, such as dosimeters and protective suits, for a team of experts whose mission is to carry out radiological examinationsand of adjust remote monitoring systems. The latter no longer sends data to the headquarters ofInternational Atomic Energy AgencyIAEAlocated in Vienna, Austria, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The situation at the plant has been gradually returning to normal since the Russian army left on March 31, but theInternational Atomic Energy AgencyIAEA watch over him everyday.