The Russians open the gates of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia

An administrative building is burned, but those of the reactors seem intact: AFP was able to visit the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant on Sunday, the largest in Ukraine and Europe and whose seizure by the Russian army alarmed the international community.

Moscow forces took control in March of the central located in the city of Energodar, in the south of Ukraineseparated by the Dniepr River from the regional capital Zaporizhiaunder Ukrainian control.

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The clashes in the area aroused fear in the international community of a catastrophe nuclear similar to what happened in 1986 in Chernobyl.

During a press visit organized by the Russian army, AFP was able to observe the damage: the facade of an administrative building that served as a training center for central it was blackened by flames and several windows were blown out.

But there are no signs of gunfire or shelling in the six red-domed cubes that contain the reactors, which began construction in the 1980s.

Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency considered the situation in the central from Zaporizhiato which its experts have not had access since Moscow took it over.

The central “It works normally, in accordance with nuclear, radioactive and environmental standards,” said Major General Valeri Vassiliev, a specialist in nuclear and chemical issues sent by Moscow to secure the site.

The few soldiers standing guard behind sandbags look relaxed and are not wearing suits, masks or any other radiation protection gear.

“Everything is going well here”proclaims the new pro-Moscow mayor of Energodar, Andrei Chevchik.

“We are ready to sell electricity to Europe. Every buyer is welcome. It’s very cheap”added the mayor before leaving in a gleaming SUV adorned with Russian flags.

However, the operation of the plant, which is still run by Ukrainian teams, is unclear.

AFP was unable to meet with any of the site’s employees and the degree of coordination between them and the new bosses was unclear.

Before the start of the Russian offensive in Ukrainethe central it had a capacity of 5,700 megawatts, enough to cover more than 20% of the country’s electricity needs.

Source: Elcomercio

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