Russia and Ukraine have spent most of the last week publicly accusing each other of plotting to stage an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in the south of the country. The largest nuclear power station in Europe, the plant is currently under the control of occupying Russian forces.
President Zelensky of Ukraine, citing the country's intelligence service, said that Russian troops have placed objects that look like explosives on the roof of several of its power units, possibly with the intent of simulating an attack and blaming it on Ukraine.
Satellite images taken on July 5 show new objects on the roof of Unit #4, and Ukrainian officials have been increasingly ratcheting up warnings of nuclear sabotage (similar to the sabotage warnings in the months prior to the early June destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam). On Tuesday, Ukraine's health ministry released guidelines for the public on how to respond in the event of a radiological emergency at the facility.
According to Petro Kotin, President of the State Nuclear Energy Agency Energoatom, there is a high level of danger at the power plant site due to the presence of Russian forces.
“We know that machine gun nests were placed on the roofs of several power units. These new images may also indicate that there may be explosives on the roofs. Of course, given the quality of the photo, it is impossible to say exactly what is there.”
Counter-Accusations
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov raised the specter of a potentially "catastrophic" provocation by the Ukrainian army at the nuclear plant and said that measures are being taken to counter such a threat.
Peskov is referring to an alleged plot by Ukraine to attack the Zaporizhzhia station using long-range precision artillery and drones to drop ammunition laced with nuclear waste from another of the country’s five nuclear stations, thus giving the illusion of a radiological emergency and further involvement of other nations.
IAEA
On Friday, International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi held a press conference in Tokyo after visiting the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. When asked to comment on the situation at the Zaporizhzhia, Grossi responded:
"I'm very concerned and we continue to be very concerned.."
Regarding access to the facility, Grossi stated:
I think we are making progress. From Tuesday to today, we have been able to get more access, though not yet to the rooftops, but we have filed the request to the authorities to go there.
"We have to understand that this is a combat zone. There is an active war zone, so sometimes it may take a day or two to get the authorizations."
Watch Grossi's full comments here.
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An Attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Could Still be Catastrophic
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