The EU has sent 5.5 million potassium iodide tablets to Ukraine to protect the population from possible radioactivity from the controversial Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. Austria supplies 500,000 such tablets. Ukraine itself asked for the tablets last Friday as a precaution around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.
Potassium iodide tablets would only be administered in scenarios where the absorption of radioactive substances that have already entered the body via the thyroid gland must be prevented. The aid of more than half a million euros was organized through the EU-wide “rescEU” for civil protection.
The responsible EU Commissioner, Janez Lenarčič, thanked Austria for its contribution and called for an immediate end to the attacks on the Ukrainian nuclear power plant. It is “unacceptable to endanger the lives of civilians”.
The ongoing shelling of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhya, has fueled fears of a nuclear disaster. Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of attacking the nuclear power plant (see video above).
“Must ensure safety”
Experts from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are currently en route to Zaporizhzhya. They are expected to conduct an inspection there in the coming days. “We must ensure the safety of the largest Ukrainian and European nuclear facility,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
