Europe’s largest nuclear power plant can be found in Zaporizhzhya. Since the 1980s, Ukraine has used the power plant to produce energy through its six reactors. But only a short week after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, the nuclear power plant fell under Russian control. Since then, the atmosphere around the power plant has been tense. Now several people are once again worried about what might happen, as Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of planning new attacks on the power plant. Over 600 kilometers to the west from Zaporizhzhya, there will be long queues at the border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova. According to Sky News, several Ukrainians have started fleeing the area. Russia has controlled the power plant since March 2022. Photo: AFP There is increased cause for concern when the local population also appears to be fleeing the area, says Tom Røseth, head lecturer in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy. – The Ukrainians have shown that they do not want to flee without reason. Russian forces have established military equipment in the area over time and in recent weeks have reduced the personnel at the nuclear power plant. “Damaging the power plant is a possible Russian way of escalating to disrupt the ongoing Ukrainian offensive,” says Røseth. – The threat is great Several times it has been subjected to attack, such as in March 2022 when a fire broke out at the power plant following an attack by Russian forces. Half a year later, in September, the power plant was shut down as a result of the war. In the Kremlin, the Russians claim that the threat of Ukrainian sabotage of the power plant is great. Renat Karchaa, an adviser to Russia’s Atomic Energy Agency, went on state television on Tuesday night and said the Ukrainian army may try to attack the nuclear power plant as early as Wednesday night. Ukraine claims the opposite. In a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russians were planning “dangerous provocations” at the power plant. – Russia has played on the nuclear threat for a long time to deter Western support for Ukraine. It has not worked so far, says Røseth and continues: – A thinly veiled Russian threat of sabotage at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant will cause concern. It would signal Russian willingness to escalate to tactical nuclear weapons. Tom Røseth believes it is less likely that an explosion will produce consequences similar to Chernobyl. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news – How likely is it that the Russians are planning an attack against the power plant? – It is likely that Russian forces have placed explosives. It is likely that this is used to deter and show that they are not surrendering the power plant, but rather choosing to destroy it. An explosion with consequences similar to Chernobyl is less likely. Nuclear safety chief on a visit A few weeks ago, the head of the international nuclear safety agency IAEA, Rafael Gross, visited the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya. With his life at stake, he found himself in the middle of the war zone in Ukraine, having to look at the security conditions of the power plant. After the visit, he told news that the situation at the nuclear power plant is under control, for now. Nuclear safety chief Rafael Grossi visited the nuclear power plant this summer. He then told news that the situation at the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya is under control, for now. Photo: AFP Department director in the Directorate for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (DSA), Jan Helge Kaiser, describes the situation as serious to news. – It can contaminate agricultural land and drinking water sources locally, or make areas inaccessible to people. It will have local repercussions in Ukraine. At the same time, Kaiser says that Norway is well prepared due to the preparedness in the country. – A discharge from a power plant such as Zaporizhzhya will have marginal consequences for Norway. For our part, it is a long way to Ukraine. As the weather forecasts are now, an emission in Ukraine will not reach here, it will go to Russia.
ttn-69
Tense atmosphere around Zaporizhia – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
