Ukraine denounced this Monday that the Russian troops that control the Zaporizhzhia NPP they have installed explosives and are ready to blow up the plant, which would cause an international disaster
“Russian troops have wired the power units of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with explosives. Major General Vasilyev, commander of the garrison stationed at the plant, announced his readiness to blow up the plant, which would lead to a nuclear catastrophe.”, indicated the government, through a message from the Center for Strategic Communication.
According to what they indicated, Vasilyev also declared that the area “will be Russian land or scorched earth” and he made it clear to his soldiers that no matter how difficult the orders they received, they should carry them out “with honor”, since they are “liberators”.
The statement also quoted the Ukrainian intelligence official, Andrii Yusov, who had confirmed reports about the planting of explosives at the plant.
Zaporizhzhia – Europe’s largest atomic energy complex – was occupied by Russia early in its invasion. In recent days it has been the scene of attacks that have damaged several structures, forcing the closure of a reactor.
Recent clashes at the plant have prompted the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to warn of the “very real risk of a nuclear catastrophe”. For his part, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, condemned the attacks without holding any of the parties responsible. “Any attack on a nuclear plant is a suicidal thing. I hope those attacks end and at the same time I hope the IAEA will be able to access the plant,” he added.
This Monday, kyiv called for the establishment of a demilitarized zone around the nuclear power plant, where recent fighting with Russian forces has raised fears of a nuclear accident. “What needs to be done is to withdraw the occupying forces from the plant and create a demilitarized zone in its territory”, declared Petro Kotin, president of the Ukrainian nuclear energy company, Energoatom.
“The fact that they are there is the greatest danger in the face of a radiation accident or even a nuclear catastrophe,” he added in a statement distributed by the agency.
Potin said in the statement that Russia had deployed some 500 Russian soldiers and 50 pieces of military equipment in Zaporizhzhia and that the situation at the plant had marked a “deterioration” in recent days. “Let there be a peacekeeping mission that includes experts from the IAEA and other security organizations. Their presence and giving control initially to them and then to the Ukrainian side would have solved this problem,” he added.
The Kremlin on Monday accused Ukrainian forces of firing on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, warning of possible “catastrophic consequences” for Europe. Ukraine earlier accused Russian forces of firing rockets at the facility. kyiv said last month that Russian forces were storing heavy weapons at the plant.
(With information from AFP and EFE)
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