[D66] UN alarm as Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant shelled again

[René Oudeweg]

bbc.com <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62505815>


  UN alarm as Ukraine nuclear power plant shelled again

BBC News
5-6 minutes
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A Russian soldier guards near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Photo: August 2022Image source, Reuters

Image caption,

Russia seized the nuclear plant in March, but kept the station's
Ukrainian personnel

*More shelling of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been
reported, with Ukraine and Russia again blaming each other for the attack.*

Each side said there were 10 hits on the office and fire station of
Europe's biggest power plant on Thursday.

At a meeting of the UN Security Council called to discuss the situation,
the head of its nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, warning it was a "grave
hour".

UN Secretary General António Guterres also said it could "lead to disaster".

China and the US both called for UN experts to be allowed to urgently
visit the plant, but similar demands in the past have so far not been
acted upon.

Earlier, the US also called for a demilitarised zone to be established
around the plant: "Fighting near a nuclear plant is dangerous and
irresponsible," a state department spokesperson said.

However, Russia's UN representative said demilitarisation was not an
option, suggesting that it would make the plant more vulnerable to
"provocations" and "terror attacks".

The facility and its surrounding area in central-eastern Ukraine saw
shelling last week, with Russia and Ukraine also accusing each other
over that attack.

Ukraine says Russia has turned the site into a military base, launching
attacks from there knowing that Ukrainian forces are unlikely to retaliate.

In a statement on Thursday, Ukraine's nuclear agency Enerhoatom said
that "Russian invaders again shelled the Zaporizhzhia plant and
territories near the nuclear facility".

It said an administrative office near the welding area was hit and
several radiation sensors were damaged. There was a small fire on some
nearby grass, but no injuries.

Enerhoatom added that the fire station located near the plant was also
targeted.

Because of the shelling, it was impossible to change the personnel after
their shift, so they had to continue work overtime.

But the situation was currently under control, Enerhoatom said.

Media caption,

Watch: Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant appears on fire after shelling (3
March 22)


    Zaporizhzhia: How the crisis unfolded

  * *March 2022:* Shortly after the start of their invasion of Ukraine,
    Russian troops seize the plant. Its management is told that the
    complex now belongs to Russian state nuclear power company Rosatom.
    Ukrainian staff continue to operate the plant under Russian control
  * *July:* Russian forces reportedly deploy rocket launchers in the
    complex, turning it into a military base
  * *3 August:* The International Atomic Energy Agency says the plant is
    "completely out of control" and needs an inspection and repairs
  * *5 August: *Ukraine's nuclear agency, Enerhoatom, says two rounds of
    Russian rocket fire prompted its operators to disconnect a reactor
    from the power grid
  * *8 August:* Ukraine says renewed Russian shelling has damaged three
    radiation sensors and injured a worker. Local Russian-backed
    authorities say Ukrainian forces hit the site with multiple rocket
    launchers
  * *10 August:* Foreign ministers from the G7 group of nations say
    Russia must immediately hand back control of the plant to Ukraine
  * *11 August:* More shelling of the plant is reported, with Ukraine
    and Russia again blaming each other

The Russian-installed officials issued a mirroring statement, accusing
Ukraine of carrying out the shelling.

They said Ukrainian forces were using multiple-launch rocket systems and
heavy artillery. The claims by each of the side have not been
independently verified.

Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York City on
Thursday, Mr Grossi again called for his International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) to be allowed in to inspect the plant.

"This is a serious hour, a grave hour and the IAEA must be allowed to
conduct its mission to Zaporizhzhia as soon as possible," he said.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Guterres earlier warned: "Urgent
agreement is needed at a technical level on a safe perimeter of
demilitarisation to ensure the safety of the area".

In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned
that "only the complete withdrawal of Russians from Zaporizhzhia
guarantees the restoration of nuclear safety for the whole of Europe".

The Zaporizhzhia plant is in the city of Enerhodar, in the south-east of
Ukraine along the left bank of the River Dnieper (Dnipro in Ukrainian).

It consists of six pressurised water reactors and stores radioactive waste.

After seizing the complex, Russia kept its Ukrainian employees.

So far, UN nuclear watchdog officials have been unable to inspect the plant.


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