[Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Photo courtesy of BBC] Moscow has accused Kyiv of attacking the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on 7th April 2024. Nevertheless, reports indicate that the damage caused on the Russian-controlled plant was minor.
Immediately after the attack, the Russian media called the attack a nuclear terrorist activity by Ukraine. In response, Ukraine denied the allegation, indicating that Russia was trying to misinform the world and stir more tension.
Overview of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
The Zaporizhzhia plant, located in Southern Ukraine, is one of Europe’s largest nuclear facilities. The plant was built in the 1980s, and so far, four out of its six original reactors have been shut down.
In 2022, the Russian army seized the plant as soon as the Russian government invaded Ukraine.
Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear agency, claimed there was a series of attacks in the first week of April this year. These attacks allegedly wounded three staff members and left one in critical condition.
Meanwhile, Inessa Kovalenko, the administrative secretary for the Internal Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has accused Russia of trying to divert attention. She alleges that Russia has been ignoring the concerns of the IAEA, choosing instead to accuse Ukraine of terrorism.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has also had a discussion with French President, Emmanuel Macron, regarding the recent dangerous nuclear plant attack.
Minor Damage Caused to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
Russia alleges that the 7th April attack on the nuclear plant happened three times, a position that IAEA experts have confirmed.
Fortunately, the team’s inspection revealed the attack did not cause any structural damage to the plant.
However, the dome roof of one of the units showed minor damage. Significant structural damage to an installation such as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant can put the region’s life and property in grave danger.
According to analysts, both Russia and Ukraine are mishandling nuclear safety, something they consider an unwarranted risk.
Meanwhile, Zelensky and Macron have agreed to keep the situation under control by engaging IAEA through conference calls.