Moscow/Kiev, May 18, (dpa/GNA) – Russia has voiced concern over what it describes as Ukrainian attacks near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in south-eastern Ukraine, warning of escalating risks at the site.
Alexei Likhachev, head of the Russian state nuclear company Rosatom, said the situation around the plant was becoming increasingly dangerous. “We are getting closer to a point of no return.” Russian forces took control of the facility shortly after the invasion of Ukraine began more than four years ago. Moscow has since accused Kiev of repeated artillery and drone strikes in the surrounding area.
Likhachev said the situation amounted to “playing with fire” and warned of potential consequences for all of Eastern Europe. He urged international efforts, including from Europe, to help de-escalate tensions around the site. He noted that around 2,600 tons of nuclear fuel are stored at the plant. In the event of a direct hit, particularly on spent fuel storage facilities, there are risks of regional significance, he said.
Attacks on facilities in the surrounding area amount to “an escalation of the situation to the point of catastrophe,” Likhachev said. According to Russian reports, several buses were damaged or destroyed in an artillery strike on a vehicle depot at the site over the weekend. Zaporizhzhya is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, with six reactors and a capacity of around 6,000 megawatts.
It is not currently generating electricity. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) maintains a permanent monitoring mission at the facility to reduce the risk of a nuclear accident.
GNA