After the bombings, the return of worries. While the attacks were directed on Sunday at the sector where the Zaporizhia power station is located, Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of wanting to compromise world security by attacking a sensitive area.
“There have been explosions at the site of this large nuclear power plant, which is totally unacceptable,” Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Sunday.
Ukraine points the finger at Russia’s responsibility for these bombings, even going so far as to accuse it of endangering the entire world. Moscow denies any involvement and accuses Kyiv of being behind the strikes.
“The Kyiv regime continues to provoke us with the aim of creating an industrial disaster at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant,” said Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.
No major buildings affected
However, the Russian forces assure it: checks have been carried out and no significant devices have been damaged in these attacks.
“We have IAEA inspectors who are permanently on site and who provide us with extremely accurate information. We know that no building or device important for nuclear safety has been affected,” says Valérie Faudon, general delegate of the French Society for Nuclear Energy. . Energy.
In addition, the presence of IAEA experts inside the plant is a security factor, explains General Pellistrandi, a BFMTV Defense consultant, on our set. “At the site there are neutral personalities who can testify about the impact zones in the plant.”
Because each bombardment near the plant brings to mind the Chernobyl disaster and raises new concerns about nuclear risk.
Reactors closed since October
Valérie Faudon recalls, however, that these anxieties must be moderated, since the Zaporizhia reactors have been cold since the beginning of October.
“The reactors have been closed for a month and a half. We are with a temperature of the water in the reactors that is below the boiling point: even if the buildings were hit, we would have several days to intervene so that ‘there is no incident’ , said.
“I don’t think either of them is interested in causing a nuclear incident,” he adds.
In addition to these concerns about the nuclear threat, Sébastien Boussois, a specialist in international relations, reminded this Sunday on BFMTV that the plant represents a major source of energy for Ukrainians.
“We are always entitled to ask what is the point of shooting at the plant when Vladimir Putin has already closed many other plants in Ukraine. But it is part of the battle on the Russian side to try to cut off the light sources. and power supply for Ukrainians as winter approaches,” he said.
“Since October, there has been a strategy directed knowingly by Moscow that consists of hitting everything that is electrical infrastructure. Other nuclear power plants have been deprived of electricity. We are in an electrical war: everything that weakens the Ukrainian network is in favor of the Russians,” analyzes General Pellistrandi.
Source: BFM TV
