The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine was targeted again last week, with continual concern over its safety since the start of the war with Russia in 2022
Safety at Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant is “rapidly deteriorating”, Russia’s nuclear energy chief has warned.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine was targeted by Ukrainian Armed Forces on Friday, Russia says, and was also attacked earlier this month – with continual concern over its safety since the start of the war in 2022.
It is usual for both sides to blame each other for threatening the safety of the nuclear plant, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said it was a Russian attack last Friday which led to a person being killed.
A tank containing fuel and lubricants and several vehicles were all hit causing a ferocious fire that led to a further three men being injured and are said to be in a critical condition.
Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the Russia’s Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, says the situation is rapidly getting to a point of “no return”.
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He said: “We are getting closer and closer to the point of no return, and all of Europe must now redouble its efforts to de-escalate the situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
“It is moving too quickly toward the point of no return.” If the ZNPP site, which contains 2,600 tonnes of nuclear fuel, is breached, it will pose risks on a regional scale, he noted.
After heavy fighting, the nuclear power plant passed into the hands of the Russians in March 2022, and there have been plenty of missile strikes near the nuclear power plant.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had been informed that the External Radiation Control Laboratory of the power plant was targeted by a drone on May 3.
No injuries were reported but the extent of the damage was investigated, with the director general of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, saying any attack poses a “nuclear safety risk”. The IAEA said at the time of that attack: “IAEA has been informed by the ZNPP that a drone targeted its External Radiation Control Laboratory (ECRL) today.
“There were no reported injuries and it is not yet known if the strike damaged the lab, which is located outside the ZNPP perimeter. IAEA team at the site has requested access to the lab, Director General @rafaelmgrossi says, reiterating that any attacks near nuclear sites can pose nuclear safety risks.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation said a driver was killed by a drone strike in an operation carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in April. The Rosatom corporation said an employee at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant died during the incident on April 27.
