The UN’s nuclear watchdog leader criticized Ukraine for using a drone to attack one of the six nuclear reactors at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. He said that this kind of attack could cause a big nuclear accident.
On social media, Rafael Mariano Grossi said that at least three direct hits happened on the main reactor buildings at ZNPP. “He said it can’t happen. ”
He said it was the first attack like this since November 2022. This is when he made five important rules to prevent a dangerous nuclear accident.
Officials at the plant said that Ukrainian military drones attacked the site on Sunday. They hit the dome of the plant’s sixth power unit.
The plant officials said that there was no serious damage or injuries and the radiation levels at the plant were normal after the attacks. On Sunday, the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom said three people were hurt in an unusual drone attack near the site’s canteen.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Sunday that its experts were told about the drone attack, and that the explosion matches what the agency has noticed.
In another statement, the IAEA said that drone attacks caused damage to the nuclear plant, including one of its six reactors. One person was injured, it was reported.
The damage at unit 6 is very serious and could cause the reactor’s containment system to become weaker, but it hasn’t affected the safety of the nuclear power plant.
The power plant got caught in the middle when Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in 2022 and took over the facility. The IAEA has said many times that they are worried about the big nuclear power plant in Europe. They are afraid there might be a big nuclear disaster. Ukraine and Russia both say the other is attacking the plant, which is still near the battle area.
The plant’s six reactors are not running for a long time, but it still needs electricity and skilled workers to run important cooling systems and safety features.
On Sunday, three people died when a Russian bomb hit their house in the town of Huliaipole in southeastern Ukraine. Ivan Fedorov spoke. Two people got hurt in Huliaipole from shelling on Sunday.
Three individuals were injured in Russia’s attack in Ukraine’s northeast Kharkiv region, according to the governor of the region.
Tag: IAEA
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Ukrainian prone to nuclear accident after recent Russian attacks – IAEA head
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Zelensky worried about Russia’s plans to undertake “dangerous provocations” at Zaporizhzhia plant
During a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raised concerns about Russia’s alleged plans for “dangerous provocations” at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently under Moscow’s control.
This exchange of statements followed mutual accusations between Kyiv and Moscow regarding preparations for an incident at the plant, which happens to be the largest in Europe.
The ongoing conflict has raised fears about the potential safety risks faced by the nuclear facility as a result of Russia’s invasion.
“I warned Emmanuel Macron that the occupation troops are preparing dangerous provocations at the Zaporizhzhia plant,” Zelensky said in a statement after a phone call with his French counterpart.
“We agreed to keep the situation under maximum control together with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency),” he added.
In his evening address, Zelensky said Russia had “installed objects similar to explosives” on the plant, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
“Perhaps to simulate the hit on the plant. Maybe they have some other scenario. But in any case, the world sees it,” the Ukrainian leader said.
“Radiation is a threat to everyone in the world.”
The claim about the explosives was earlier made by the Ukrainian army, which warned of the “possible preparation of a provocation on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia power plant in the near future”.
It claimed that “external objects similar to explosive devices were placed on the outer roof of the third and fourth reactors” at the site.
“Their detonation should not damage power units, but may create a picture of shelling from the Ukrainian side,” it said, alleging that Moscow would “misinform on this”.
In Moscow, an advisor to Russia’s Rosatom nuclear agency, Renat Karchaa, accused Kyiv of planning an attack on the plant.
“Today, we got information that I am authorised to announce… On July 5, literally at night, in the dark, the Ukrainian army will try to attack the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Karchaa told Russian state television.
He claimed that Ukraine planned to use “high-precision, long-range weapons” as well as drones.
Russia and Ukraine have regularly accused each other of putting the plant’s safety at risk since the outbreak of the war in February 2022.