Ukraine is one step away from nuclear disaster after dozens of bombs hit the Zaporozhye plant

Ukraine was “one step away from nuclear disaster” after a massive attack on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant at the weekend. Dozens of bombs fell there, some near the reactors, destroying a building where radioactive waste was stored. Reuters.

It remains unclear which warring party was responsible for the blasts at the Russian-controlled Zaporozhye nuclear power plant shortly after the invasion began.

The shooter at the plant “took great risks and gambled with the lives of many,” said Rafael Croce, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“We’re lucky we didn’t have a serious nuclear incident. Next time, we won’t be so lucky,” Grossi said.

Radiation levels were normal and there were no casualties, the IAEA said. Although there was no direct impact on nuclear safety and security systems, “the explosions were dangerously close,” Croci said.

Those behind this attack must be stopped immediately. As I have already said many times, you are playing with fire!” warned Raffaele Croci in his statement.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported at least 12 explosions at the Saporitia nuclear power plant on Saturday evening and Sunday. The head of the IAEA, Raffaele Grossi, said the attacks were deeply worrying and completely unacceptable.

Attacks on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine came as fierce fighting raged in the country’s east, with Russian forces shelling Ukrainian positions on the front lines. The bombing of the nuclear power plant followed a series of setbacks for Russian forces in the Kherson region in the south and a response from Moscow that launched a barrage of missiles across Ukraine for several days.

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Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of repeatedly bombing the facility in recent months following attacks on or near the nuclear power plant.

The IAEA panel plans to carry out an assessment on Monday, but Russian nuclear operator Rosenergoatom said there would be restrictions on the panel’s inspection.

“If they want to inspect an installation that has nothing to do with nuclear security, access will be denied,” Renat Karcea, adviser to Rosenergoatom’s general director, told TASS.

The plant has been bombed repeatedly, just 500 km from the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, the world’s worst civilian nuclear disaster.

The Zaporozhye plant supplied 20 percent of Ukraine’s electricity before the Russian invasion. The plant has six VVER-1000 V-320 reactors of Soviet design, which are water-cooled, and use uranium 235 as fuel.

Six of its reactors are currently shut down, but cooling systems are at risk of overheating if power is cut. The blasts caused repeated power outages. Several times after the start of the war, the power plant had to operate back-up generators.

Publisher: GM

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