Zaporozhye NPP working as usual after more Ukrainian shelling
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The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is still functioning as usual despite the Ukrainian armed forces repeatedly shelling the facility and jeopardizing the lives of thousands of people.
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The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant
The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) is operating normally after the Ukrainian armed forces shelled it yet again, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the regional military-civil administration, told Sputnik.
On Saturday, the Ukrainian armed forces struck the city of Enerhodar and the Zaporozhye NPP, which the Russian military has had under its control since March. The city's thermal power station was also struck by Ukrainian troops. Drone attacks by Ukrainian forces have regularly targeted the facility, leading Russia to request help from the IAEA to address security issues.
"Some of the shells fell between the thermal power plant and the nuclear power plant, and some - on the thermal power plant," Rogov told the Russian news agency.
"The nuclear power plant itself was not damaged and is operating normally. The air defense of the Russian army once again protected the site from the nuclear threat, which is being constantly provoked by Ukrainian nationalists," he added.
Rogov said Friday that the nuclear power plant could be mothballed if Ukrainian troops continue to shell its territory and infrastructure.
The head of the Zaporozhye region, Yevhen Balytskyi, said Thursday the authorities were prepared to host IAEA experts and ensure their safety, the Rossiya 24 broadcaster reported.
"We are fully prepared to host [UN Secretary-General Antonio] Guterres, we are ready to receive IAEA [experts], we are ready to receive today everyone who arrives and ensures their safety," Balytski said in an interview with the broadcaster.
However, the regional head also stressed that ensuring the security of IAEA experts is much more difficult given that the Ukrainian attacks on the Zaporozhye NPP were unpredictable.
"Russia is ready to provide as much assistance as possible to make the visit happen," he added.
Last week, the deputy director of the Russian foreign ministry's non-proliferation and arms control department, Igor Vishnevetsky, stated that Russia was willing to assist the IAEA with a potential visit to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
Earlier this month, Russia refuted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's claim that Russian forces were using the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) as a military base, according to a statement issued by the Russian Mission to the United Nations.
A high-voltage line of the Kakhovskaya substation of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) has been damaged as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian armed formations, Rogov had previously said.
Furthermore, he underlined that "the station specialists have been instructed to move to safe premises. At present, no contamination is being registered at the station. The radiation background is normal," after at least three shells were identified in ​​the storage of radioactive isotopes area.
"[Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky's terrorists continue shelling the Zaporizhzhia NPP. A high-voltage line of the Kakhovskaya substation has been damaged. The line has been grounded to carry out restoration work," Rogov said.
