UN atomic watchdog warns of threat to nuclear safety as fighting spikes near plant in Ukraine

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SAMYA KULLAB
Updated 7:00 AM CDT, September 9, 2023

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The United Nations atomic watchdog warned of a potential threat to nuclear safety due to a spike in fighting near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine, whose forces continued pressing their counteroffensive on Saturday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said its experts deployed at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported hearing numerous explosions over the past week, in a possible indication of increased military activity in the region. There was no damage to the plant.

“I remain deeply concerned about the possible dangers facing the plant at this time of heightened military tension in the region,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi warned in a statement issued late Friday.

He noted that the IAEA team was informed that staff at the nuclear power plant had been reduced temporarily to minimum levels due to concerns of more military activity in the area.




Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-d35112510e7db3e5e92602f5e93e91c5

[ancianita]

1. Thank you for keeping news updates on this. This is the most dangerous threat to the EU.

Even if the plant isn't attacked, if the cold shut down fails due to inattention during this war, the radiation, and where the wind blows, can cause millions to suffer death and displacement, all heading to the EU in a great migration. This possible outcome, being ignored by media, leaves the EU and NATO populations unprepared for the worst. Several NATO countries could suffer radiation exposure.

Dr Paul Dorfman, a nuclear safety expert who has advised the British and French governments, says Ukraine, parts of Russia, and central Europe are at risk of radioactive plume coming from the station...


He said the much less defended Olympic-sized storage pools for spent fuel from the nuclear reactors, or otherwise known as ‘ponds’, still present a huge risk.

‘If the power supply to these ponds dries up then the water evaporates and there is a significant nuclear incident where the high-level radioactive waste rods blow,’ the expert added.

In terms of the latest modelling, most of the radioactive plume will fall on Ukraine and Russia’s bordering territory.

Central Europe and the northern tip of the Middle East, including Turkey, are also at risk of exposure.

‘It all depends on the wind and the dispersion. Winds can change as well,’ Dr Dorfman said.

https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/20/map-shows-what-may-happen-to-europe-if-ukraine-nuclear-plant-explodes-17394484/

[burrowowl]

2. Not good!

[hueymahl]

3. Yet another reason to bring this war to an end

How many do we need?

[NickB79]

4. And your suggestion is what, again?

In a previous thread I recall you were all about "peace negotiations", but pussyfooted around the question of letting Putin keep chunks of Ukraine when you were called out on it.

So I'll ask you straight: do you expect Ukraine to let Putin keep some of it's captured territory?

How do you trust a dictator like Putin to not rearm and attack again, since that's what he did after the last peace treaty following his previous land grab in 2014?

[hueymahl]

6. I'll leave it up to the diplomats and the administration and Ukraine to decide that

My point is we need to make clear to Ukraine they need to find a resolution and tell them the days of a blank check are over. War is not the answer.

Just like those on here advocating for war won't ever say what their limit is to the support we provide or say something inane like "it's Ukraine's choice", I am not going to presume to know what magic combo will bring peace. But personally, I don't see how this can end without some compromise on a combination of territory/Nato membership/neutrality/etc.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

5. Does that part of Europe experience the prevailing westerly winds like here in the US?

If so, I would think the Russians would be concerned that radiation could/would contaminate their own country.