Ukraine and Russia exchanged accusations of plotting to destroy one of the largest nuclear power reactors in the world on Wednesday, but neither side offered any proof to back up their allegations that the facility in southern Ukraine, which is occupied by Russian forces, was in immediate danger.
Since Moscow's forces seized over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and its personnel in the early phases of the war, it has been a source of worry. Regarding the shelling near the facility that resulted in power disruptions, Russia and Ukraine have frequently swapped accusations. The risk of a radioactive disaster like to the one at Chernobyl when a reactor exploded in 1986 has alarmed the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog on many occasions during the last year.
Although Zaporizhzhia's six reactors are shut down, the facility still needs power and skilled personnel to run essential cooling systems and other safety features.
More recently, Ukraine has claimed that Moscow may try to deliberately leak information in an effort to thwart Kyiv's current counteroffensive in the nearby Zaporizhzhia area.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, said Tuesday night that Russian forces had put "objects resembling explosives" on top of many of the plant's power units to "simulate" an outside attack. He based this claim on the most recent intelligence assessments.
The Russian-controlled plant, which is still managed by its Ukrainian workforce, has representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency stationed there. Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the IAEA, stated that no explosive activity was discovered during his organization's most recent assessment of the plant, "but we remain extremely alert."
“As you know, there is a lot of combat. I have been there a few weeks ago, and there is contact there very close to the plant, so we cannot relax,” Grossi said during a visit to Japan.
The largest nuclear facility in Europe might be the target of a "catastrophic" provocation by the Ukrainian army, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in Russia.
"The atmosphere is strained. The Kyiv regime poses a serious threat of sabotage, which may have catastrophic effects, Mr. Peskov said in answer to a reporter's inquiry regarding the facility. He said that the Kremlin was using "all measures" to neutralize the claimed danger posed by Ukraine.
Both Kyiv's and Moscow's assertions were acknowledged by Mr. Grossi, who also reaffirmed that "nuclear power plants should never, under any circumstances, be attacked."
“A nuclear power plant should not be used as a military base,” he said.
Renat Karchaa, an adviser to Russian state nuclear company Rosenergoatom, said there was “no basis” for Mr. Zelenskyy’s claims of a plot to simulate an explosion.
“Why would we need explosives there? This is nonsense” aimed at “maintaining tension around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Mr. Karchaa said.
According to Mr. Karchaa, the Ukrainian military intended to attack the facility early on Wednesday using munitions laden with radioactive waste, according to Russian media on Tuesday. The possibility of such an assault has not been confirmed as of Wednesday afternoon.
According to the nation's emergency services, in the event of a nuclear accident at the plant, some 300,000 people would be evacuated from the neighborhoods nearest to the site.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the containment domes around the reactors in shutdown are made of solid concrete.
