Russian President Vladimir Putin on 5th October ordered his government to take control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is Europe's largest nuclear power station in the Russia-annexed region of southern Ukraine. The order was provided that “ The government will ensure that the nuclear facilities at the plant….are integrated as federal property,”. The power station, which is close to the front lines, has been occupied by the Russian forces since March, but Ukrainian technicians have continued to utilize the nuclear plant with some Russian nuclear officials, who are keeping an eye over the Ukrainian activities.
(Image Source- Reuters)
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power has been in operation since 1984 and is located on the bank of the Dnieper River, near the Donbas Region, which is a point of conflict between both armies. The Russian order also comes amid statements from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, that the annexed areas are part of Russia now and will not be withdrawn to Ukraine. He also pledged to take back the regions Russia lost to Ukraine in the last few days. At a point in the war near a nuclear power station, things became very hazardous as some parts of the station were damaged in the shelling, and both countries blamed one another for the damage. The buildings were hit in the nuclear complex but no major destruction was reported.
(Image Source-NBC News)
Before Russia's incursion, the plant produced about one-fifth of Ukraine's electricity and nearly half the energy generated by the country's nuclear power facilities. According to the U.N agencies, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi is currently in Ukraine for further consultations on "agreeing and implementing a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the ZNPP as soon as possible,". Grossi conveyed his concern about the power supply at the plant "The situation with regards to external power continues to be extremely precarious. We do have at the moment external power but it is, I would say fragile. There is one line feeding the plant," he told the Energy Intelligence Forum in London via a telephone link. Meanwhile, the head of Ukraine's state nuclear energy company said he was taking charge of the ZNPP and he urged workers of the plant not to sign any documents with its Russian occupiers.
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