Russia could spark a newnuclear accidentin Ukraine 40 years on from theChernobyl disasterof 1986, experts have warned. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued an urgent alert following a fatal incident at the Russian occupied ZaporizhzhiaNuclear Power Plant.
Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation said a transport worker was killed in a drone strike at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which it claims was carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Rosatom, a Russian state nuclear agency described the strike as a “great tragedy,” warning that attacks on the facility endanger both human lives and overall security. Issuing a stark warning the IAEA's Director General said in a statement today that strikes on or near nuclear power plants (NPPs) can endanger nuclear safety and "must not take place".
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The IAEA statement said: "IAEA has been informed by the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant that a drone strike this morning killed a driver at its transport workshop in the vicinity of the plant site.
"Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterates that strikes on or near NPPs can endanger nuclear safety and must not take place. The IAEA’s team on the site will look into the incident and continue to monitor the situation."
Zaporizhzhia, which is currently in cold shutdown, has become a point of mutual accusation, with both Russia andUkraineblaming each other for risking a potential nuclear catastrophe.
The plant suffered its 15th power outage since it came under occupation in 2022, according to RBC-Ukraine, highlighting persistent concerns over the fragility of its radiation safety conditions.
As Ukraine marks 40 years since the Chernobyl disaster, President Zelensky described such Russian actions as “nuclear terrorism.”
In a speech yesterday to mark the the 40th anniversary of the nuclear disaster at theChernobylplant in Ukraine, the country's Ambassador to the UN Andrii Melnyk called for Russian forces to "finally get the hell out of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant".
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
