The nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, Europe’s largest in central Ukraine, was hit today by a Russian army bombing, but the safety of the plant is “guaranteed,” according to Kyiv, which blamed Moscow for “Nuclear terrorism”.
“After the bombing of the Russian nuclear plant in Zaporizhia, a fire broke out,” Andriy Tuz said in a video he uploaded to the Telegram platform account.
“The safety of the nuclear power plant is now guaranteed. According to factory executives, the fire broke out in a building where employees were trained and in a laboratory “, later reassured via Facebook Oleksandr Staruch, the commander of the Ukrainian military forces in Zaporizhia. He clarified that firefighters were able to reach the scene.
However, a spokesman for the emergency services said shortly afterwards that Russian troops had prevented firefighters from going to the factory.
The level of radioactivity in the plant, which has six reactors and provides much of the electricity consumed by the country, remains unchanged, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, adding that no reactors were hit.
Earlier, the IAEA issued an urgent appeal “to stop the use of force” at the nuclear plant, warning of “a very serious risk if the reactors are hit”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of “nuclear terrorism”, saying it wanted to “repeat” the Chernobyl disaster – where the worst nuclear accident in history took place in 1986 – shortly after briefing US President George W. Bush.
“We warn the world that no country other than Russia has ever opened fire on nuclear power plants. It is the first time in our history, the first time in the history of mankind. “This terrorist state is now resorting to nuclear terrorism,” Mr Zelensky said in a video uploaded to the Ukrainian presidency’s website.
“Ukraine counts fifteen nuclear reactors. If someone explodes, it will be the end of everything. The end of Europe. “Europe must be evacuated.”
“Only if Europe takes immediate action will it be able to stop the Russian troops. “Europe must not be in danger of dying from a nuclear disaster.”
The White House said after Biden’s meeting with Zelensky that the US president was joining his voice with his Ukrainian counterpart, calling on Russia to “stop its military activity in the area” of the plant and “allow access to firefighters and rescue teams “.
Washington also assured that according to its information, there is no increase in the level of radioactivity in Zaporizhia.
On February 24, fighting broke out around the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant, about a hundred kilometers north of Kiev. This area is now in the hands of Russian troops.
Speaking on Russian television on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear that no one could hope that the attack he ordered would end soon.
“The special military operation is being carried out according to plan, according to the plan,” he said, paying tribute to Russian soldiers and their “valuable struggle against neo-Nazis” and “foreign mercenaries” who use civilians as “human shields”. »In Ukraine.
In Russia, the websites of Facebook and several independent and foreign media outlets were partially inaccessible earlier today. Later in the day, a draft law is expected to be debated in the State Duma that provides for 15 years in prison for any publication or reproduction of “fake news” about the Russian military.
Russian forces are stepping up their attacks on major Ukrainian cities. Kyiv yesterday accused Moscow of bombing a district of Chernihiv on its way to Kyiv, killing 33 people. A local official complained that the Russian air force had bombed two schools, posting photos of the demolished buildings.
Vladimir Putin yesterday appeared to erase any hopes for mediation from his French counterpart, saying on the phone to Emmanuel Macron that Moscow “intends to continue its uncompromising struggle against members of nationalist organizations and his demand for demilitarization and a state of neutrality in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.
