Risk of radioactive leak at Ukraine nuclear
plant, operator says
Energoatom cites risks of ‘hydrogen leakage and
sputtering of radioactive substances.’
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was seized by
Russian troops in March but its daily operation has remained under Ukrainian
staff |
AUGUST 27,
2022 8:34 PM
https://www.politico.eu/article/risk-of-radioactive-leak-at-ukraine-nuclear-plant-operator-says/
Ukraine’s state energy operator warned there is a risk
of a radioactive leak at the country’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant amid
shelling by Russian forces.
Russia has
“repeatedly shelled” the site, Europe’s biggest nuclear facility, over recent
days, the operator, Energoatom, said in a statement on Saturday.
“As a
result of periodic shelling, the infrastructure of the station has been
damaged, there are risks of hydrogen leakage and sputtering of radioactive
substances, and the fire hazard is high,” Energoatom said.
“Due to the
presence of the Russian military, their weapons, equipment and explosives at
the power plant, there are serious risks for the safe operation” of the nuclear
facility, it said.
The Russian
Defense Ministry countered that Ukraine had fired shells at the plant.
Energoatom
said the Russian military at the power plant are preparing for the arrival of a
team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The team
from the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog could arrive at the site as early as
next week, the New York Times reported. A list of the team’s members seen by
newspaper includes the IAEA’s chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi, and 13 other
experts from mostly neutral countries, according to the report. Neither the
U.S. nor Britain is represented on the team, it said.
Meanwhile,
Russia blocked an agreement at the UN that was aimed at bolstering the nuclear
non-proliferation treaty (NPT), reportedly over the wording of a reference to
the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the text.
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