The situation at #Ukraine's #Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has gotten more volatile in recent days, with both sides in the conflict pushing the envelope of what they do at the site and even some shelling. I'm catching up, but here's what I know about it:
Since its occupation on 3 March the site has been in a very uneasy mode of operation with Russian forces controlling the site while Ukrainian technicians conduct operation under constant close scrutiny. It wasn't pretty but it was stable.
Recently Russia began stationing weapons around the site. Forces see it as a safe place from which to fire across the Dnipro River at Nikopol, while Ukrainians won't dare fire back. However, Ukraine has used small drones for targeted strikes on military kit on the plant grounds.
Things got worse with three episodes of shelling on #Zaporizhzhia from Friday, for which both sides blame each other. A power line, a diesel generator and a nitrogen-oxygen station were damaged.
Important: Radiation levels remain normal and there is no accident in progress.
Important: Radiation levels remain normal and there is no accident in progress.
Today, the board of the Ukrainian nuclear safety regulator decided #Zaporizhzhia should be shut down and directed the licensing committee to amend/terminate the operating licenses of units 1 and 2. I believe the other 4 reactors at the site were fully shut down before occupation.
At the same time, concerns have been raised by a comment attributed to Russian Major General Valery Vasilyev. Energoatom said he told them plant has been mined and he would prefer to damage it than hand it back. Serious threat or rhetoric?
How serious is Russian general Vasilyev about damaging the #Zaporizhzhia plant if he is ordered to? I guess nobody but he and Putin can say.
But I do know that there are no circumstances whatsoever that these power plant reactors could be made to explode like a nuclear bomb.
But I do know that there are no circumstances whatsoever that these power plant reactors could be made to explode like a nuclear bomb.
Here's a link to a previous thread on how the design of plants like #Zaporizhzhia means they are no soft targets and there's no easy way for a 'stray missile' to trigger an accident or cause another release of radiation.
https://twitter.com/jrmygrdn/status/1499704114825019396
In the meantime the International Atomic Energy Agency has been trying to visit the plant to assess the situation and support repairs. Its head, Rafael Mariano Grossi, thinks the presence of UN experts there would deter more malevolence. iaea.org/newscenter/pre…
In recent weeks Ukraine had been resisting the idea of an IAEA mission to Zaporizhzhia, saying it would legitimise Russia's presence there. It seems the evolved situation has changed Ukraine's mind and it is now reportedly calling for the mission.
That's the shape of it as far s I can see. I'll update this thread as I get more information.
The Institute for the Study of War considers the reported threat to damage #Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to be based on unreliable reporting and 'likely false'.
understandingwar.org/backgrounder/r…
understandingwar.org/backgrounder/r…
Far from blowing it up, what if Russia is planning to STEAL the #Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant?
https://twitter.com/mbudjeryn/status/1557079250477498368
Wild as this idea is, I have to say it makes sense, and notably more sense than the fake news idea of blowing it up.
It also fits with moves yesterday by the Ukrainian regulator to terminate its operating licences. I’ll investigate a bit more tomorrow.
It also fits with moves yesterday by the Ukrainian regulator to terminate its operating licences. I’ll investigate a bit more tomorrow.
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