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Thirty-seven years after the disaster Chernobylthe nuclear plant, which is now shut down and not generating electricity, still bears traces of its occupation in 2022 by Russian troops,
Thirty-seven years after the disaster Chernobylthe nuclear plant, which is now shut down and not generating electricity, still bears traces of its occupation in 2022 by Russian troops, while the situation at the largest plant in Europe, Zaporozhyein the hands of the invaders.
“The Chernobyl accident left a huge scar on the whole world. the escape radioactivity it has turned a beautiful and landscaped area into an exclusion zone with a high concentration of radiation,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said on his official Telegram channel, recalling the efforts of almost 500,000 people who worked to limit damage.
Tragedy
26 April, 1986 the explosion destroyed the plant’s fourth reactor and released a large amount of radioactive material into the atmosphere. It has been blown into parts of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, as well as Scandinavia and other parts of Europe.
About thirty people died during the explosion from radioactive exposure in a few weeks, while millions could have been affected. The Soviet authorities initially concealed the extent of the disaster from the public, while making great efforts to limit the damage.
Evacuated 350,000 residents of cities and towns in the Exclusion Zone around the plant, which remains largely uninhabited and under tight control. Still today.
In 1986, the destroyed reactor was covered with a hastily built “sarcophagus”, which was later covered with a new design in 2016 to prevent further leaks.
The disaster had a great political and cultural influence and some Ukrainian historians believe it contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union, damaging the reputation of the Moscow authorities.
Occupation and its aftermath
The Russian invasion revived the painful memories of the accident following an invasion on February 24, 2022, army troops from neighboring Belarus took over the plant.
During the occupation, which lasted until March 31, the Russians damaged and destroyed measuring equipment, telecommunications, computers and office equipment, Oleg Korikov, head of Ukraine’s nuclear safety agency, said Tuesday.
Photo: Reuters
Although there were no reports of clashes, Russian troops were heavily hit. radioactive impact after digging trenches in the most polluted part of the Exclusion Zone, known as Selva Roja.
Most of the monitoring sites have returned to work, and the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been operating since January to assist in nuclear safety issues.
The IAEA and 12 countries are assisting in the reconstruction of the station after the occupation by replacing damaged equipment and ensuring the supply of components, Korikov told reporters.
Danger of another accident
However, the difficult situation is at another plant, the largest in Europe, in Zaporozhye. The station was under Russian occupation almost fourteen months.
“We must do everything so that a terrorist state does not use nuclear facilities to blackmail Ukraine and the whole world,” Zelensky stressed on Wednesday.
According to Olga Kosharna, the danger of a radioactive leak, three times more powerful than in Fukushima (Japan), with its potential long-term consequences for neighboring EU countries Moldova and Turkey, remains high.
Photo: Reuters
Kosharna said EFE that the station is currently powered by only one high-voltage line, which could be damaged at any moment by an attack, and that Russia is preventing the repair of three others. As a result, the plant has repeatedly had to rely on backup power generators to keep the reactors and their radioactive fuel cool.
So far it has been possible to avoid serious accident Kosharnaya noted that thanks to the professionalism of her Ukrainian staff.
He added that these workers were threatened and, in some cases, physically abused due to Russia’s intention to completely control the plant with its troops and military equipment located at the plant.
According to Kosharnaya, the international community’s priority is to ensure that “all nuclear terrorists, including the Russian leadership,” are held accountable for their actions in Ukraine.
(EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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