Russia has reportedly caused “crazy panic” as it evacuated the city near the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant ahead of the expected Kiev attack.UN nuclear watchdog warns that a ‘serious nuclear accident’ could occur
Analysts have been saying for months that Ukrainian forces could hit the southern Zaporizhzhya region in a spring counteroffensive – specifically aimed at them dividing Russian positions and blocking land routes to Crimea. If you are
But fighting around Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, adjacent to the occupied Enerhoder, a city of about 50,000, could prove disastrous.
Russia-installed regional governor Evgeny Baritsky on Friday ordered civilians to leave Enerkhodar and 17 other communities – suggesting hostilities could escalate, said the International Atomic Energy Agency. Director General Rafael Grossi said over the weekend.
“I am very concerned about the real nuclear safety and security risks facing nuclear power plants,” Grossi said. “The general situation in the area near the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous.”
None of the plant’s six reactors are in operation. But stations need constant power to keep essential cooling systems online and prevent catastrophic radiation hazards.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said the evacuation had already begun on Sunday.
Thousands of cars had fled from the Zaporizhzhya region, and the Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, said there was a five-hour wait. According to the BBC.
Stores in the evacuated areas are running out of supplies and medicines, he wrote on Telegram. The BBC reported that hospitals were discharging patients to the streets, fearing they would run out of water and electricity during the Ukrainian strike.
According to the IAEA, evacuations have also begun in Enerkhoda, where many factory workers live.
Grossi said operational staff remained as of Saturday, adding that the situation was leading to an “increasingly tense, stressful and difficult situation for staff and their families.”
Nuclear experts on the ground are also hearing regular shelling, he said.
The BBC noted that this is not the first time regulators have been concerned about the safety of nuclear power plants.
The IAEA announced in March that the power plant was keeping its cooling system running on diesel generators after a power line failure.
“We must act now to prevent the threat of a serious nuclear accident and its attendant consequences for population and the environment,” Grossi said. “This major nuclear facility must be protected.”
with post wire
