Could Another Chernobyl or Fukushima Happen in Europe?

According to intelligence reports, Russia has withdrawn some of its personnel from the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine and is actively spreading fake news about alleged 'Ukrainian plans to attack the ZNPP using drones.'

This was announced by Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

According to him, the latest Russian fake propaganda regarding the situation at the ZNPP is a 'primitive and deceitful psychological operation' that does not correspond to reality.

Yusev pointed out that this disinformation is related to several aspects.

Firstly, it is a response from Russian terrorists to Ukraine's extensive information campaign exposing the war crimes committed by Russian occupiers at the ZNPP and other critical infrastructure objects in Ukraine.

Ukraine consistently provides the international community with evidence of Russia's preparation for another terrorist attack on the ZNPP, similar to the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, which received little international response.

Secondly, according to Yusev, this disinformation and psychological operation may serve to cover up Russia's actual terrorist actions.

Recall that on the second week of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia captured the largest Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Europe, which generates about one-fifth of Ukraine's energy, on March 4, 2022. ZNPP workers informed BBC at that time that they were effectively held hostage by the Russian army, with some employees subjected to torture.

Before the occupation, the adjacent territory and the city of Enerhodar, where the plant is located, were shelled by Russian forces for a long time. A fire that broke out in one of the administrative buildings during that period caused great concern.

Since the plant's capture, as claimed by the Ukrainian government and Western countries, the Russian army has been firing from the ZNPP territory. US Secretary of State Blinken stated that Russia is using the plant as a military base to shell Ukrainians, knowing that they will not retaliate as it could result in accidental hits on the nuclear reactor.

The Russian army has deployed multiple rocket launch systems and other weapons and equipment on the plant's territory.

Meanwhile, Moscow acknowledges the presence of its military personnel at the ZNPP but denies launching attacks from the plant's territory.

The head of Ukrainian Energoatom reported that up to 50 heavy Russian military vehicles, including 'Ural' trucks rigged with explosives, and up to 500 Russian soldiers are currently present on the plant's territory.

On August 18, 2022, workers of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), who continue to operate the station despite the control of Russian forces, published an appeal urging the international community to 'prevent irreversible consequences.'

The ZNPP units have not been operational since September 2022.

On June 22, 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia is planning a terrorist attack on the ZNPP.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov stated that Ukraine is prepared for any scenario concerning the ZNPP.

On June 30, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence reported that the Russian occupiers is gradually leaving the ZNPP territory.

At the end of June, large-scale exercises of emergency services for the elimination of the potential consequences of a terrorist attack on the ZNPP took place in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro regions.

On July 4, the Armed Forces of Ukraine warned that Russian occupiers may be preparing a provocation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed his concern for the safety of the ZNPP after it was disconnected from power supply during the night of July 4 for unknown reasons.

The President of Ukraine once again warned of possible threats from Russia surrounding the ZNPP due to the placement of explosives by Russian forces.

You can find information about the current situation at the ZNPP and the radiation background here.