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Russia and Ukraine The two countries on Tuesday accused each other of plotting to attack the Russian-controlled Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, and have long been the target of mutual accusations and suspicions.
Russian forces seized the plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility with six reactors, within days of the incident. In February 2022, the Kremlin invaded its neighbor.
Since then, both sides have frequently accused the other of shelling around the nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine and risking a major nuclear accident.
Reynat Kacha, a consultant to the head of Rosenergoatom, which operates Russia’s nuclear network, said Ukraine planned to drop factory munitions containing nuclear waste shipped from another of the country’s five nuclear power plants.
“On the night of July 5, under the cover of darkness, the Ukrainian military will try to attack the Zaporozhye station using long-range precision equipment and kamikaze attack drones,” Russian news agencies quoted Kacha as telling Russian television. He provided no evidence to support his allegations.
A statement from the Ukrainian Armed Forces said an “explosive device” was placed on the roof of the station’s third and fourth reactors on Tuesday, citing “operational data.” An attack could occur “in the near future”.
“If detonated, they would not damage the reactor but would create images of shelling from the Ukrainian side,” the statement on Telegram said. The Ukrainian army “stands ready to take action under any circumstances,” the statement said.
Nor has the military provided any evidence to support its claims.
None of the plant’s reactors are producing electricity.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, has been working for more than a year to reach an agreement to ensure the demilitarization of the plant and reduce the risk of any possible nuclear accident.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi has inspected the plant three times since Russia took over, but has failed to reach any agreement to secure the facility from shelling or other conflict-related incidents.
Mikhailo Podoliak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, told Ukrainian television that Grossi proved to be ineffective in keeping the plant safe.
“If Grossi were cleared immediately, any disaster in Zaporozhya could have been avoided,” Podoliak said, accusing the IAEA of being erratic in addressing the issue.
“That said, it’s not a clown act that this guy is doing. When there’s a disaster, he’ll say they have nothing to do with the disaster and warn of the danger.”
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