Nuclear plant in Ukraine is shelled; Rising dangers feared

KYIV, Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine exchanged accusations Monday about each other’s shelling of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in the south. Russia claimed that Ukrainian bombardment caused a power surge, fire, and forced staff members to reduce output from two reactors. Ukraine blamed Russian troops for keeping weapons there.

Experts have warned that additional shelling of Zaporizhzhia, Russia’s first captured nuclear power plant, could pose a danger. Monday’s Kremlin statement was echoed by the Kremlin, which claimed that Ukrainian shelling could cause “catastrophic consequences” for Europe.

Andriy Yasov, Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesman countered that Russian forces planted explosives at a plant to stop an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukrainian officials had previously said Russia is using Ukrainian workers as human shields and launching attacks on the plant.

Rafael Grossi is the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. He warned that the Russian forces’ control over the plant, as well as the ongoing fighting around it, pose grave environmental and health risks.

However, an Imperial College London expert in nuclear material is said The reactor at Zaporizhzhia has a modern design and is housed in a concrete and reinforced steel structure that was built to protect from natural disasters.

“As such, I do not believe that there would be a high probability of a break in the containment structure even if it was accidentally struck with an explosive shell. It is even less likely that the reactor would be damaged by such an attack.” said Mark Wenman, college’s Nuclear Energy Futures.

He also said The spent fuel tanks where the shells are reportedly hitting are strong and likely don’t have much spent fuel.

He said that while it could seem concerning, any fighting on a nuclear site would be considered illegal under international law. However, the chances of a serious nuclear leak are still low. said.

Prior to Sunday’s bombardment, the nuclear power plant had also been under fire. Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Monday’s Ukrainian attack Sunday caused a power surge and smoke at the switch facility. This triggered an emergency shutdown. The fire crews extinguished all flames and personnel at the plant reduced the reactor output to No. 5 and No. 6 to 500 megawatts, said.

Dmitry Peskov (Kremlin spokeswoman) urged Western powers not to attack Kyiv.

Peskov said that the “Shelling of territory for the nuclear power plant by the Ukrainian arm forces is highly hazardous.” said in a conference with reporters. “It has devastating consequences for vast territories across Europe.”

However, Yusov (Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesman), said Russian forces carried out the bombardment.

He said, “If it’s so,” and “if it doesn’t conform to reality, then the Russians can make goodwill gestures and hand over control to an international commission or the IAEA, even if it isn’t to the Ukrainian military.”

Yusov said Russia used similar tactics to take control of Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear facility in wartime. He stated that this was a Russian strategy of terror and scorched ground, used in anticipation of an unavoidable counteroffensive from the south. said.

One of the ships that left Ukraine in a deal to open grain supplies and prevent a global food shortage arrived in Turkey. It was the first ship to arrive at its destination. After departing from Chornomorsk on Friday, the Turkey-flagged Polarnet with 12,000 tons corn was loaded at Derince.

Dmytro Kuneba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister tweeted, “This sends out a message of hope for every family in Africa, Middle East, and Asia: Ukraine won’t abandon you.” The grain corridor will continue to ensure global food security if Russia complies with its obligations.

Ahmet Yucel Alibeyler from Polarnet highlighted the risks of grain-carrying ships crossing the Black Sea.

He stated, “These were, obviously, dangerous areas, corridors, that had been cleared and demined.” said.

The Kremlin reiterated Monday on the frontlines of war that Russia will continue its military aggression against Ukraine until it achieves their goals.

The Ukrainian presidential office said Five people were killed when the Russians shelled seven regions of Ukraine in the past 24 hours.

According to local officials, Ukrainian forces attacked Russian-controlled regions in the south. saidAgain, he struck a strategic bridge in Kherson’s southern city.

The Ukrainian mayor Melitopol was a Russian-controlled Ukrainian city in the Zaporizhzhia area. said Ukraine used U.S. HIMARS rocket-launchers to bombard several Russian military installations.

Kirill Stremousov (deputy head) of the Moscow-appointed administration for the Kherson area said The Antonivskiy bridge across the Dnieper River was again damaged by Ukrainian shelling. This bridge was an important route for Russian military supplies. However, it has been closed since earlier shelling. said.

Russian forces continued to shell Nikopol, which is just across the Dnieper River, from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Ukraine’s president office said. Nikopol’s natural gas pipelines, power lines and plumbing are now non-functional, leaving thousands without electricity.

Under the grain deal between Russia (Ukraine) and Turkey (10 outbound and 2 inbound), 12 ships are now authorized to sail. Around 322,000 metric tons worth of agricultural products have left Ukrainian ports. The bulk of this was corn, but there has also been sunflower oil and soya.

Four ships which left Ukraine Sunday afternoon are expected to be docked near Istanbul Monday evening to undergo inspection Tuesday.

The Razoni cargo ship with 26,000 metric tons of corn for chicken feed, Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni was the first to leave Ukraine. However, it ran into a problem on its way. It was heading to Lebanon with 26,000 tons of chicken feed corn, but it ran into problems and will not dock there. said.

Monday’s tweet from the Ukraine’s Embassy in Beirut stated that the final buyer for the corn in Lebanon declined to accept the cargo because of a delay in delivery and that the shipper was seeking another buyer.

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Kareem Chehayeb, Mehmet Guzel, Turkey and Andrew Wilks, Istanbul, contributed to this article.