A period of relative peace at the plant was unexpectedly ended by powerful explosions that jolted the region around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on Saturday evening and again on Sunday morning, according to the U.N.
Although parts of the plant’s structures, systems, and equipment were damaged, the International Atomic Energy Agency team at Zaporizhzhia reported that none of these issues put nuclear safety and security at risk.
There have been no reports of casualties.
The explosions, according to IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi, have further highlighted the urgent need for action to help prevent a nuclear disaster there.
Grossi stated, “The news from our team yesterday and this morning is incredibly upsetting.
This huge nuclear power plant’s location had explosions, which is very undesirable.
Whoever is responsible for this must cease right away.
You’re playing with fire, as I’ve stated many times before, he said.
The director-general reissued his urgent request to the warring parties to reach a quick agreement and put into place a nuclear safety and security zone surrounding the ZNPP.
He has had lengthy discussions on creating such a zone with Russia and Ukraine in recent months, but no agreements have been reached as of yet.
Russia’s recent retreat from Kherson “was executed in very good order,” according to the British Defense Ministry, and its success “is certainly largely attributable to a more effective, single operational command under General Sergei Surovikin.”
According to the ministry, the number of Russian vehicles lost was probably in the tens as opposed to the hundreds, and whatever equipment that was still present was “successfully destroyed by Russian forces to deny it to Ukraine.”
Although the Russian military “remains riven by inadequate junior and mid-level leadership and cover-up culture,” the study issued a warning.
Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse, Reuters and The Associated Press.
