Europe

Ukraine strikes dome above shutdown reactor at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, says Russia

International Atomic Energy Agency‘s director general says both sides should refrain from actions which ‘jeopardise nuclear safety’'

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in eastern Ukraine is Europe’s largest. Photograph: AP

Sun Apr 7 2024 - 16:36

Ukraine struck the dome above a shutdown reactor at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear station on Sunday, though radiation levels were normal and there was no serious damage, the plant’s Russian-installed administration said.

It was not immediately clear what weapon was used against the nuclear plant, which was taken by Russian forces shortly after their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The plant said earlier it had been attacked by Ukrainian drones.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has experts at the site, said it had been informed by the Russian-run plant that a drone had detonated at the site and the information was “consistent” with IAEA observations.

IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said both sides should refrain from actions which “jeopardise nuclear safety”.

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The nuclear plant has six Soviet-designed VVER-1000 V-320 water-cooled and water-moderated reactors containing uranium 235 and also has spent nuclear fuel at the facility.

Reactors 1, 2, 5 and 6 are in cold shutdown, while reactor 3 is shut down for repair. Reactor 4 is in so-called “hot shutdown”, according to the plant.

The plant, which is Europe’s largest, said that the Ukrainian armed forces “attacked the dome” of the building housing reactor 6. “The radiation levels at the plant and the surrounding area have not changed.”

Reuters was unable to immediately verify battlefield accounts from either side. Ukraine did not immediately comment on the situation.

The plant remains close to the front lines, and both Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly accused the other of attacking the plant and so risking a possible nuclear disaster. The IAEA’s Mr Grossi has repeatedly warned of grave concerns about the plant due to repeated attacks.

Earlier three civilians were killed in a Russian attack on the frontline village of Guliaipole in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Sunday morning, the local governor said. “Two men and a woman died under the rubble of their own house, which was hit by a Russian shell,” Ivan Fedorov said on the Telegram messaging app.

Mr Fedorov said one more person was injured. He said Russians shelled the village with a Grad self-propelled multiple rocket launcher. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

The frontline Zaporizhzhia region is under constant Russian bombardment by rockets, drones and cannons.

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned on Saturday night that Ukraine could run out of air defence missiles if Russia keeps up its intense long-range bombing campaign.

The Ukrainian leader’s starkest warning to date of the deteriorating situation faced by his country’s air defences follows weeks of Russian strikes on the energy infrastructure, towns and cities using a vast arsenal of missiles and drones. “If they keep hitting [Ukraine] every day the way they have for the last month we might run out of missiles, and the partners know it,” Mr Zelenskiy said on Ukrainian television.

Ukraine had enough air defence stockpiles to cope for the moment, he said, but added it was already having to make difficult choices about what to protect.

He singled out in particular the need for Patriot missiles. The sophisticated US air defence systems had been vital during Russian attacks with ballistic and hypersonic missiles, and 25 systems would be needed to cover the country fully, he said.

The president also said Ukraine does not have enough ammunition for a counter-offensive against Russia but has started receiving some from partners to defend itself. “We don’t have shells for counter-offensive actions. As for the defence – there are several initiatives, and we’re receiving weapons.”

He said his country would agree to a US aid package in the form of a loan. “We will agree to any options,” he said, adding that the key thing was that the aid arrived “the sooner, the better”.

– Reuters/Guardian

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024

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