News

Ukraine: Renewed shelling at Zaporizhzhia plant underlines nuclear accident risk |



Rafael Mariano Grossi said that Ukrainian authorities had informed the nuclear watchdog about the re-barrage of the site over the past three days, but they stated that all safety systems are still operational and no increase in radiation level.

“The latest shelling once again emphasize the potential risk of nuclear accident at ZNPP, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP), controlled by Russian forces since early March but operated by Ukrainian employees,” he said in a statement. statement.

Incomplete information

Mr. Grossi said Ukraine still does not have full information on the nature of damage from the shelling, which occurred on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Zaporizhzhia plant has six nuclear reactors. It normally has four power lines outside but three that were lost earlier in the conflict are now in their seventh month.

The shelling hit the area of ​​two so-called special buildings of the plant, located about 100 meters from the reactor buildings, as well as an overpass area.

Buildings containing facilities include a water treatment plant, appliance repair shop, or waste management facility. Some water pipes were also damaged but were repaired.

Radioactivity in the normal range

Mr. Grossi quoted information from Ukraine as saying that all radioactivity measurements in this area were within the normal range and there were no signs of hydrogen leakage.

The nuclear plant resumed external power after temporarily losing connection to the last remaining 750-kilovolt external power line on Thursday.

Connection was restored that afternoon following two power cuts and the disconnection of the plant’s two operating reactors from the national grid.

Both reactor units were reconnected on Friday and are back in operation. Four other devices were disconnected prior to Thursday and remain in a state of outage.

Mission efforts continue

Meanwhile, Mr. Grossi said he continues to consult with all parties in the implementation effort IAEA expert delegation to the plant to help ensure nuclear safety and security there.

The mission will assess physical damage to facilities, determine if primary and backup safety and security systems are functioning, assess staff working conditions, and take action. Emergency protection on site.

Concerns of the Secretary-General

UN Secretary General António Guterres also called for a mission to be launched “as soon as possible”.

Last week, the UN chief told the Security Council that he is still “Special care” about the situation in and around the nuclear plant.

“Warning light is flashing” he said in a briefing on Wednesday, marking sixth month of the “pointless war” in Ukraineas well as the 31st anniversary of the country’s independence.

“Any action that could jeopardize the physical integrity, safety or security of a nuclear plant is simply unacceptable. Any further escalation of the situation can lead to self-destruction. “

Guterres said the UN has the logistics and security capacity in Ukraine to support any IAEA mission, provided both Russia and Ukraine agree.



Source link

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button