Ukraine's intelligence reports a possible terrorist attack on Zaporizhzhya NPP
The head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Kyrylo Budanov, has reported that Russia has completed preparations for an attack on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is under the control of the Russian military.
He said this in an interview with the New Statesman
"The plan for a terrorist attack on ZNPP is fully developed and approved. They can use technical means to accelerate the disaster... The situation has never been as serious as it is now," Budanov said.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the pool that cools the nuclear reactors has been mined by the Russians, and without proper cooling, nuclear reactors can fail within ten hours to 14 days. At the same time, the Russians can increase the voltage level in the power lines, which will significantly accelerate a nuclear accident.
Budanov also shared intelligence indicating that Russian militants have moved vehicles filled with explosives to four of the six power units, which contradicts all safety rules established on the territory of nuclear facilities.
The DIU identifies two potential scenarios for the Kremlin to blow up a nuclear power plant. The first scenario is that if Russian troops are pushed out of the left bank, Putin will order a terrorist attack to prevent the Ukrainian army from advancing.
The second scenario envisages the use of a nuclear attack as a "preventive measure" to stop the Ukrainian offensive and freeze the front line as it is now.
At the same time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its statement noted that no mines were found on the territory of the nuclear power plant during the recent visit of Director General Rafael Grossi. However, the organisation is aware of Russian troops mining the area around the plant.
On 22 June, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy recorded an urgent video message in which he said that Russia was planning to commit a terrorist attack with a radiation leak at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
"Intelligence has received information that Russia is considering a scenario of a terrorist attack at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - a terrorist attack with a radiation release. They have prepared everything for this," Zelenskyy said.
Yesterday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he had discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP with a number of Western leaders, including White House Chief of Staff Joe Biden.
"We have to take very concrete steps - all together in the world - to prevent any radiation incidents," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the world should pay more attention to the threat at the Zaporizhzhia plant, because so far it is "insufficient", just as the reaction of world leaders to the Russians' explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station was insufficient.