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Grave concerns over the risk of fire and radioactive leaks from shelled Ukrainian power plant

In the event of an accident contamination from Zaporizhzhia NPP would exceed the consequences of Chernobyl and Fukushima, Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev says

Photo: EPA/BGNES

Grave concerns over the risk of fire and radioactive leaks due to the firing at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, continue.

"Zaporizhzhia NPP is operating at risk of violating radiation and fire safety standards," Ukrainian nuclear regulator Energoatom was quoted as saying by BTA. "Energoatom said yesterday that one of the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant had been shut down after shelling, for which Kiev and Moscow blame each other," AFP reported.

Shells hit a high-voltage power line on Friday at the facility, prompting its operators to disconnect a reactor despite no radioactive leak being detected. The plant was captured by Russian forces in early March in the opening stage of the war but it is still run by its Ukrainian technicians.

United Nation's nuclear watchdog IAEA called for a halt to hostilities in the power plant site. Head of the National Center for Defense Control, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev announced, quoted by TASS, said that in the event of an accident, radioactive contamination would exceed the consequences of Chernobyl and Fukushima.

A foreign-flagged ship arrived in Ukraine on Saturday for the first time since the war started in February, and will be loaded with grain, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said.Barbados-flagged general cargo ship Fulmar S entered the Ukrainian port of Chernomorsk.

Under the July 22 Istanbul Agreement it will be loaded with grain and allowed to sail, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said yesterday. According to him, this is a sign for shipowners that the "grain corridor" is a safe and profitable business opportunity to return to Ukrainian ports, UNIAN reports.

4 ships loaded with Ukrainian corn have already sailed from Ukrainian ports after the signing of the Istanbul Agreement, and 4 more are due to sail today. Despite the war, farmers in Ukraine will harvest about 52 million tons of grain and 13-15 million tons of oilseeds this year, Ukraine's Deputy Agrarian Minister Taras Vysotsky was quoted as saying by Ukrinform.




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