‘Nuclear terrorism’ – Ukraine attack on Kursk nuclear power plant

25/08/2024 CEN_net Energy. Transport & Climate Change~, Environment, Biodiversity & Pollution~, Main~, Science, Technology, Heritage & Architecture~ 0

CGTN Global reports that Russia on Friday (Aug 23, 2024) accused Ukraine of trying to attack the Kursk nuclear power station in what it called an act of “nuclear terrorism”, days before the head of the United Nations atomic watchdog is due to visit the site.

The nuclear plant is located in the Kursk region of western Russia, where fierce fighting has raged since Ukrainian forces launched a military incursion on August 6, 2024.

Russia is a key member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and a member of the BRICS economic bloc.

The Russian news agency TASS quoted a source as saying a drone had been shot down near a spent nuclear fuel storage facility at the Kursk nuclear power plant.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described it was an “act of nuclear terrorism” that required an immediate response from the United Nations watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The plant has four reactors, of which two are operational. Construction of two more reactors began in 2018. The Russian nuclear operator Rosenergoatom announced on Friday that unit 4 at the plant would be disconnected from the grid on Sunday for scheduled preventive maintenance lasting 59 days.

The head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi is due to visit the power station next week, appealed for maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident.

The Ukrainian military has also repeatedly attempted to bomb the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river. It was built in Soviet era and with six reactors it is the largest nuclear power station in Europe. The area on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river, including the nuclear plant complex has been under Russian control since the beginning of the war.

One of the most recent attacks occured on Sunday April 7, 2024, by Ukrainian military drones, including a strike on the dome of the plant’s sixth power unit.

Russia had shut down plant’s six reactors for months, but it still needs power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features.

The UN’s IAEA said at the time that “Damage at unit 6 has not compromised nuclear safety, but this is a serious incident with potential to undermine integrity of the reactor’s containment system” … and that such attacks “significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear acciRussia is a key member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and a member of the BRICS economic bloc.

The nuclear plant is located in the Kursk region of western Russia, where fierce fighting has raged since Ukrainian forces launched a military incursion on August 6, 2024.

The Russian news agency TASS quoted a source as saying a drone had been shot down near a spent nuclear fuel storage facility at the Kursk nuclear power plant.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the incident as an “act of nuclear terrorism” that required an immediate response from the United Nations watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant is one of the three biggest nuclear power plants in Russia. The plant has four reactors, of which two are operational. Construction of two more reactors began in 2018. The Russian nuclear operator Rosenergoatom announced on Friday that unit 4 at the plant would be disconnected from the grid on Sunday for scheduled preventive maintenance lasting 59 days.

The head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi is due to visit the power station next week, appealed for maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear accident.

Ukraine’s repeated attacks on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

The Ukrainian military has also repeatedly attempted to bomb the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river. It was built in Soviet era and with six reactors it is the largest nuclear power station in Europe. The area on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river, including the nuclear plant complex has been under Russian control since the beginning of the war.

One of the most recent attacks occured on Sunday April 7, 2024, by Ukrainian military drones, including a strike on the dome of the plant’s sixth power unit.

Russia had shut down plant’s six reactors for months, but it still needs power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features.

The UN’s IAEA said at the time that “Damage at unit 6 has not compromised nuclear safety, but this is a serious incident with potential to undermine integrity of the reactor’s containment system” … and that such attacks “significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident.”

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