(for safety reasons, the publication does not disclose the interlocutor’s identity and position)
Under the guise of supposedly “done by the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, russians have constantly been shelling the territory of the power plant with multiple rocket launchers and other weapons since August 5, which has increased the actual probability of a nuclear incident with radioactive substances leakage at the facility.
The expert asserts that due to shelling at the plant, high-voltage transmission lines connecting ZNPP with the unified energy system of the country have been damaged. According to the expert, the russian artillery shelling ZNPP, imitating incoming strikes from Nikopol, is located on one of the industrial sites of the plant, where steam generators used to be stationed.
He also confirms the mining of nuclear reactor turbine rooms.
This is fraught with catastrophe even without direct shells hitting the reactors. In case of complete destruction of power networks and deactivation of nuclear fuel cooling pumps, the cooling of six nuclear reactors will stop, leading to their emergency shutdown.
In addition, an emergency shutdown of power units can trigger an imbalance in the power system and emergency disconnection of thousands of consumers (the so-called blackout). The situation is aggravated by the fact that the Ukrainian plant personnel is depressed, fatigued and frightened by the shelling, lacking adequate communication and nutrition. At the same time, the staff of the russian company “Rosatom” does not communicate with Ukrainian nuclear engineers, they stay in the shelters during the shelling and cannot immediately respond to the situation.
Moreover, the spent nuclear fuel storage facility (SFSF) remains in the shelling area, which at least can lead to a local accident and radioactive contamination of the surrounding area.
The developments at ZNPP are reminiscent of what happened at Fukushima-1 NPP on March 11, 2011. Due to the earthquake and tsunami, the reactor cooling system was accidentally shut down, which led to a steam explosion in the core, destruction of the reactor sealed zone and radioactive substances leaking outside.
Why would russia provoke the largest radiation accident in history at ZNPP?
According to experts of the Ukrainian energy company “Energoatom”, the events at ZNPP are part of russia’s big plan of energy blackmail, which aims at Ukraine’s capitulation. Russians are attempting to implement a certain form of nuclear weapons use “without a nuclear strike”, while blaming Ukraine for it.
Firstly, there is a clear intention to switch ZNPP from the Ukrainian energy system to the russian one, which will turn the plant into an asset of russian nuclear energy and, in case of a “successful” holding of the so-called referendum in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhya region, will provide an opportunity to protect it as russian property.
Secondly, the threat of a nuclear incident at ZNPP will be used by the kremlin as additional pressure leverage on the USA, NATO and the EU to force Ukraine to the negotiating table on the rf’s terms.
Experts assure that even if ZNPP “falls out” of the Ukrainian energy system for certain reasons, Ukraine will successfully pass the winter period due to the increased electricity production at coal plants and electricity purchases in the EU.
Currently, the probability of catastrophic damage to the plant as a result of shelling is estimated as unlikely by experts due to the reliability of the physical protection of reactor compartments. Nevertheless, the IAEA, as the leading international organization in the field of nuclear energy, voices grave concern over the potential risks and urges the parties to the conflict to show “maximum restraint” near the ZNPP and provide access to the facility for international experts.
