Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of the possibility of a "large-scale catastrophe" due to shelling at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant..Ukraine’s military intelligence said Russian explosives allegedly stored at the plant make it a prime target for a terrorist attack..Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear company, charged that Russia is on the verge of planning a “large-scale provocation” at Europe’s largest nuclear facility housing six reactors, with only two currently working at full capacity..But, during the confusing finger-pointing, hopes for a resolution to avoid a nuclear disaster were raised Friday when Putin agreed to finally allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors access to the plant..This came on the heels of disturbing — but unconfirmed — video that appears to be from inside the plant showing five Russian military trucks stored by several crates just 30 metres from one reactor inside a turbine hall. .Russia has been accused of turning the nuclear plant into a military base..The camouflage green trucks have Russian 'Z' war markings on their hoods. .“The video is the clearest evidence that has yet emerged to back Ukrainian assertions that Russia is storing explosives and other military hardware in and around the nuclear reactors, risking a disaster which could blanket Europe in radioactive ash,” reported the Daily Mail..A radiation cloud would also carry into Russia..“Considering the number of weapons that are currently located on the territory of the nuclear plant, as well as repeated provocative shelling, there is a high probability of a large-scale terrorist attack at the nuclear facility,” warned Ukraine’s military intelligence..Russian forces seized control of the plant, still staffed by Ukrainian technicians, in March. .Ongoing shelling near the plant raised alarms internationally..Stern letters from the UN and G7 failed to stop the shelling or establish a demilitarized zone around the perimeter..Putin issued his dire warning during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, who initiated the contact..Encouraging headway was made in the stalemate..Macron’s office, backed by an official Russian statement, said Putin agreed allow IAEA inspectors onto the site. .The IAEA has been attempting to get an inspection team in there for months..Macron said the conditions of the inspection must be approved by Ukraine and the UN..Energoatom claimed Russia plans to shut off functioning power blocks at the plant and disconnect them from the Ukraine’s power grid — to re-route energy to Russian occupied Crimea — which could spark a nuclear catastrophe if the cooling systems fail..Energoatom claimed in a post on Telegram that Russian forces are gathering fuel suppliers for generators necessary to power the cooling systems for spent nuclear fuel after the power units are shut off. .UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a demilitarized zone, with all military forces and equipment withdrawn from plant..“The facility must not be used as part of any military operation. Instead, agreement is urgently needed to re-establish Zaporizhzhia's purely civilian infrastructure and to ensure the safety of the area,” he told reporters Friday..Guterres met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Lviv to discuss the Zaporizhzhia safety problem..Erdogan said the world doesn’t want another Chernobyl, scene of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986 in Ukraine..READ MORE Warnings of 'nuclear disaster' in Ukraine bring back haunting memories of Chernobyl.IAEA head Rafael Grossi issued numerous dire warnings of that risk..However, many experts point to structural design flaws of the older Chernobyl plant that contributed to two explosions, and note the Zaporizhzhia plant is a stronger, more modern structure that could withstand the impact of a plane crash..The loss of cooling power is what presents the greatest risk..Meanwhile, employees at the plant appealed for help from the international community..“We can professionally control nuclear fission, but we are helpless in the face of people's irresponsibility and madness,” reads a letter signed by numerous employees..Emergency disaster response rehearsals are being conducted..Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov demanded the international community stop Ukrainian forces from shelling the plant..“Shelling of the territory of the nuclear plant by the Ukrainian armed forces is highly dangerous. It's fraught with catastrophic consequences for vast territories, for the entire Europe,” he told reporters..But earlier this week, Andriy Yasov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief said: “We have seen the Russian shelling of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant.”.Explosions have been reported around the site several times. .Shelling recently caused a power surge and fire that forced technicians to lower reactor output..The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) recently said along with Health Canada’s Radiation Protection Bureau, it continues to “closely monitor” the situation. .“We want to reassure Canadians that there is no immediate radiological threat to the areas surrounding the nuclear power plants in Ukraine, to neighbouring countries or to Canadians,” said the CNSC in a statement that expressed full confidence in the IAEA.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of the possibility of a "large-scale catastrophe" due to shelling at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant..Ukraine’s military intelligence said Russian explosives allegedly stored at the plant make it a prime target for a terrorist attack..Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear company, charged that Russia is on the verge of planning a “large-scale provocation” at Europe’s largest nuclear facility housing six reactors, with only two currently working at full capacity..But, during the confusing finger-pointing, hopes for a resolution to avoid a nuclear disaster were raised Friday when Putin agreed to finally allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors access to the plant..This came on the heels of disturbing — but unconfirmed — video that appears to be from inside the plant showing five Russian military trucks stored by several crates just 30 metres from one reactor inside a turbine hall. .Russia has been accused of turning the nuclear plant into a military base..The camouflage green trucks have Russian 'Z' war markings on their hoods. .“The video is the clearest evidence that has yet emerged to back Ukrainian assertions that Russia is storing explosives and other military hardware in and around the nuclear reactors, risking a disaster which could blanket Europe in radioactive ash,” reported the Daily Mail..A radiation cloud would also carry into Russia..“Considering the number of weapons that are currently located on the territory of the nuclear plant, as well as repeated provocative shelling, there is a high probability of a large-scale terrorist attack at the nuclear facility,” warned Ukraine’s military intelligence..Russian forces seized control of the plant, still staffed by Ukrainian technicians, in March. .Ongoing shelling near the plant raised alarms internationally..Stern letters from the UN and G7 failed to stop the shelling or establish a demilitarized zone around the perimeter..Putin issued his dire warning during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, who initiated the contact..Encouraging headway was made in the stalemate..Macron’s office, backed by an official Russian statement, said Putin agreed allow IAEA inspectors onto the site. .The IAEA has been attempting to get an inspection team in there for months..Macron said the conditions of the inspection must be approved by Ukraine and the UN..Energoatom claimed Russia plans to shut off functioning power blocks at the plant and disconnect them from the Ukraine’s power grid — to re-route energy to Russian occupied Crimea — which could spark a nuclear catastrophe if the cooling systems fail..Energoatom claimed in a post on Telegram that Russian forces are gathering fuel suppliers for generators necessary to power the cooling systems for spent nuclear fuel after the power units are shut off. .UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a demilitarized zone, with all military forces and equipment withdrawn from plant..“The facility must not be used as part of any military operation. Instead, agreement is urgently needed to re-establish Zaporizhzhia's purely civilian infrastructure and to ensure the safety of the area,” he told reporters Friday..Guterres met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Lviv to discuss the Zaporizhzhia safety problem..Erdogan said the world doesn’t want another Chernobyl, scene of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986 in Ukraine..READ MORE Warnings of 'nuclear disaster' in Ukraine bring back haunting memories of Chernobyl.IAEA head Rafael Grossi issued numerous dire warnings of that risk..However, many experts point to structural design flaws of the older Chernobyl plant that contributed to two explosions, and note the Zaporizhzhia plant is a stronger, more modern structure that could withstand the impact of a plane crash..The loss of cooling power is what presents the greatest risk..Meanwhile, employees at the plant appealed for help from the international community..“We can professionally control nuclear fission, but we are helpless in the face of people's irresponsibility and madness,” reads a letter signed by numerous employees..Emergency disaster response rehearsals are being conducted..Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov demanded the international community stop Ukrainian forces from shelling the plant..“Shelling of the territory of the nuclear plant by the Ukrainian armed forces is highly dangerous. It's fraught with catastrophic consequences for vast territories, for the entire Europe,” he told reporters..But earlier this week, Andriy Yasov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief said: “We have seen the Russian shelling of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant.”.Explosions have been reported around the site several times. .Shelling recently caused a power surge and fire that forced technicians to lower reactor output..The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) recently said along with Health Canada’s Radiation Protection Bureau, it continues to “closely monitor” the situation. .“We want to reassure Canadians that there is no immediate radiological threat to the areas surrounding the nuclear power plants in Ukraine, to neighbouring countries or to Canadians,” said the CNSC in a statement that expressed full confidence in the IAEA.
