Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

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.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Overcast with showers in southeastern Bulgaria

On Tuesday, lows will be between 1 and 6°C, 1°C in Sofia. During the day it will remain mostly cloudy, with showers mainly in the southeast. Over southwestern Bulgaria the clouds will break up and clear. Maximum temperatures will be 4° to 9°C, around..

published on 12/2/24 7:05 PM
Evelina Slavcheva

Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva becomes first female President of BAS

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is to have a female president for the first time. Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva from the Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems was elected today to lead the 155-year-old institution...

published on 12/2/24 6:20 PM
Borislav Sarafov

Prosecutor's Office and Interior Ministry declare zero tolerance for violence 

At a national meeting convened by acting Prosecutor-General Borislav Sarafo v to discuss the rise in public and domestic violence, it was declared that the Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of the Interior would not tolerate such crimes. "Under my..

published on 12/2/24 3:40 PM