Has Russia mined the cooling pools of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant despite facing water shortages? So claims the Ukrainian secret service – although Europe’s leading nuclear expert Rafael Grossi gave the all-clear on the spot a few days ago. A search for clues.
In a TV segment on Tuesday, Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov accused Putin’s forces of mining the cooling water basins of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. He has provided no evidence for this.
Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has six reactors and was occupied shortly after Russian troops invaded southern Ukraine. Both sides accuse each other of shelling the facility and surrounding area. International attempts to establish a demilitarized zone around the complex have so far failed.
Dangerous hostilities repeatedly led to dangerous power outages at the plant last year. All six reactor blocks were subsequently shut down to minimize the risk of nuclear catastrophe.
Experts sure: Russians blew up the dam
Since the explosion of the Kachowka dam, the nuclear power plant has come back into the picture, because the water for the cooling pools and the pond was taken from the reservoir, which no longer exists. Both experts from the Austrian Armed Forces and the US-based Institute for War Studies ISW believe Russian troops are behind the sabotage.
The Russian Defense Ministry has so far not answered whether Moscow has also mined the cooling basins of the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia. If that were indeed the case, it would not only be extremely dangerous, but also time-bound. It is likely that the sabotage occurred within the last 96 hours.
The IAEA chief personally visited the factory
Last Thursday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, visited the nuclear power plant for the third time. The situation there was “serious”, but “measures to stabilize” would be taken. There was no mention of mines.
Grossi mainly examined the cooling pond, the water level of which was decisively affected by the blowing of the dam 150 kilometers away. However, with the available water, the plant is “safe for a while”. A team of experts from the IAEA is constantly on site. However, it is not known to what extent the IAEA boss had access to the factory grounds and the six separate cooling pools. The “Krone” has asked the IAEA.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
