Russia is said to be planning attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and is blaming the Ukrainians. Kyiv warns of a nuclear catastrophe.
Kiev - The Ukrainian military leadership fears a so-called false flag operation in the coming days at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant occupied by Russian troops. Responsibility for the unspecified action should then be blamed on Ukraine, the General Staff in Kiev wrote on Facebook on Sunday (April 14).
“Russia is the only terrorist in the world to hold a nuclear power plant hostage and use it to blackmail Ukraine and the entire world.” No one but Russia has ever brought the world so close to the brink of a deliberate nuclear catastrophe, they said it.
Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of attacking nuclear power plants
With an output of almost six gigawatts, potentially the largest nuclear power plant in Europe was occupied by Russian troops shortly after the start of Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine - and later mined. It came under fire several times, which led to increasing international concerns about a nuclear accident. Both warring parties repeatedly accuse each other of wanting to provoke an incident at the nuclear power plant. All six reactors are now cold.
IAEA and UNESCO concerned about nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia
In the Ukraine war that has been going on for over two years, the nuclear power plant controlled by Russian troops has been repeatedly attacked by grenades and drones. Russia and Ukraine repeatedly accuse each other of carrying out the attacks. “For the first time since November 2022, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was directly targeted by military action,” the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned on April 7. “Such reckless attacks significantly increase the risk of a serious nuclear accident and must be stopped immediately,” IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Gross said at the time.
UNESCO is also concerned about the situation in Zaporizhia. At the Institute for Safety Problems in Nuclear Power Plants, essential instruments for monitoring the nuclear industry were stolen or destroyed. This represents a major threat to security in the region, warns UNESCO.
Zelensky angered by Western technology in Russian weapons
Meanwhile, Russia is increasing attacks on its neighboring country. More and more missiles and combat drones with components from the West that are actually subject to sanctions are hitting Ukraine. Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyj is therefore calling for more consistent implementation of sanctions against Russia in order to stop the neighboring country's attacks. “Unfortunately, aid to Ukraine is still limited, and the Russian state still has access to key components needed to produce missiles and drones,” the president said in his evening video address on Sunday.
Every missile that hits Ukraine contains many chips or electronics that Russia obtains from abroad and imports via neighboring countries. “All of this must and can be stopped: the toleration of terror, the ability of terrorists to find allies around the world, and Russian terror itself – all its manifestations.”
Ukraine needs support against Russian air strikes
The Ukrainian president also called for more support from the West in the fight against Russian air and missile attacks and referred to the largely successful defense against Iranian attacks on Israel on Sunday night. “The whole world sees what real defense is and sees that it is possible,” Zelensky said. The world also saw that Israel was not alone in defense and was supported by allies. “And when Ukraine says that its allies shouldn't turn a blind eye to Russian missiles and drones, then that means they have to act, and act forcefully.” The longer the help waits, the more confidence gains the Russian military, Zelensky warned. (erpe/dpa/AFP)