Zelenskyy: Russia deliberately struck Slavutych, knowing the consequences for Chornobyl

Zelenskyy: Russia deliberately struck Slavutych, knowing the consequences for Chornobyl

Due to a Russian strike on one of our energy substations in Slavutych, a blackout lasted for more than three hours at the facilities of the former Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. This includes, in particular, the new confinement structure, which protects the surrounding environment from the remnants of the fourth reactor unit after the 1986 explosion, as well as radioactive debris and dust. It also includes the storage facility for spent nuclear fuel, which holds 80% of all such spent fuel accumulated during the operation of the nuclear power plant. This refers to spent fuel assemblies with a total weight of over 3,250 tons.

This was reported by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"The Russians could not have been unaware that a strike on facilities in Slavutych would have such consequences for Chornobyl. This was a deliberate strike, in which they used more than 20 drones – according to preliminary assessments, Russian-Iranian ’Shaheds.’ Some of these drones were shot down, but the attack was organized as a wave of drones to complicate the defense of the facility.

Meanwhile, an eighth day of blackout continues at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, which began due to Russian shelling in the area of the plant. And the Russians are doing absolutely nothing to rectify the situation or allow Ukrainian specialists to restore external power to the ZNPP, which should operate continuously under normal conditions. Russia is deliberately creating the threat of radiation incidents, taking advantage, unfortunately, of the weak position of the IAEA and Director Rafael Grossi, as well as the fragmented global attention.

To resolve the situation, weak and half-hearted decisions will not work. Every day that Russia prolongs the war, every Russian refusal of a full and reliable ceasefire, and every constant Russian strike on all our energy facilities, including those on which the safety of nuclear power plants and other nuclear infrastructure depends, poses a global threat. Including the facilities at ChNPP and ZNPP, there are five nuclear power plants located in Ukraine, and each of them could be a target for Russian drones and missiles.

It is crucial that the countries of Europe, the United States, the ’Group of Seven,’ and the ’Group of Twenty’ take real action for peace and security to the fullest extent possible. Strong responses and appropriate pressure on Russia are needed to protect lives. I am grateful to everyone in the world who does not remain silent," Zelenskyy noted.