ZNPP one step away from radiation disaster due to Russian provocation – Zelenskyy
ALONA MAZURENKO — MONDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2022, 22:15
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to another attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) conducted by Russian invaders.
Source: address by the President of Ukraine at the end of the 194th day of the invasion
Quote: "Due to another Russian provocative attack, the last power transmission line connecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) with the Ukrainian energy system has been damaged.
Again, this is the second time that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was one step away from a radiation disaster due to a Russian provocation.
I think the fact that Russia is doing this right now, before the IAEA's conclusions [are released], is very eloquent.
The shelling of the territory of the nuclear power plant means that the terrorist state does not care what the IAEA will say, they do not care what the international community will decide.
Russia is only interested in the situation remaining as dangerous as possible for as long as possible. This can be changed only by strengthening sanctions, only by officially recognising Russia as a terrorist state on all levels."
Background:
- At the beginning of a full-scale war, Russia seized the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant; on 4 March, it captured the ZNPP, creating risks of a radiation disaster. In mid-March, the invaders had some ammunition blown up on the territory of the ZNPP.
- On 15 July, Energoatom [the Ukrainian company that runs all nuclear power plants in this country] reported that the Russians are installing missile systems on the territory of the ZNPP; later, they used them to shell the vicinities of Nikopol.
- On 1 September, mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived at the ZNPP in occupied Enerhodar.
- On 2 September, Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that after the mission is over, the ZNPP will remain in operation with two representatives of the organisation inspecting it.
- On 5 September, four of the six participants of the IAEA mission completed their work and left the territory of the ZNPP, while two representatives of the organisation remained at the station.
- On 5 September, a fire occurred due to the Russian attack. The last power line connecting the ZNPP to the Ukrainian power system was disconnected.
Read also: Russia continues to shell the ZNPP. Plant staff member explains how it looks from inside
Why Russia needs ZNPP captured and how world can avoid nuclear disaster
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