Zelensky: Europe was just one step away from nuclear disaster yesterday

2022-08-26 12:04:25Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Zelensky: Europe was just one step away from nuclear disaster yesterday
Volodymyr Zelensky

Europe faced the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensly warned, shortly after the power plant in Russian-held Zaporizhia went offline for the first time in history.
The plant's last two reactors still operating were shut down due to fires and damaged power lines, raising fears of a potential accident.

Zelensky said that only after the generators were put into operation, Zaporizhia had resumed operating safely. Fighting near the largest complex in Europe has alerted the world to a possible nuclear disaster, like that of Zaporizhia.

"If the diesel generators had not been switched on and if our staff at the plant had not reacted after the blackout, then Europe would have faced the consequences of a radioactive leak," Zelensky said.

The state nuclear company said work had begun to reconnect the two reactors to the power grid. Zaporizhia's other 4 reactors have been out of commission for most of the war. Satellite images taken on Wednesday showed a large fire burning near the nuclear complex. President Zelensky blamed Russian bombings for the fire and in an evening message accused Moscow of taking Ukraine and Europe one step away from disaster.

But the local Russian-appointed governor, Yevgeny Balitsky, blamed the Ukrainian military for the attacks, which he said had caused power cuts in the region.

The Russian military occupied the plant in early March, but Ukrainian staff continue to operate in the area, under difficult conditions. According to local officials, the level of radiation there remains normal even after disconnecting the reactors from the power grid. 


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