Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Grave concerns over the risk of fire and radioactive leaks from shelled Ukrainian power plant

In the event of an accident contamination from Zaporizhzhia NPP would exceed the consequences of Chernobyl and Fukushima, Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev says

Photo: EPA/BGNES

Grave concerns over the risk of fire and radioactive leaks due to the firing at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, continue.

"Zaporizhzhia NPP is operating at risk of violating radiation and fire safety standards," Ukrainian nuclear regulator Energoatom was quoted as saying by BTA. "Energoatom said yesterday that one of the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant had been shut down after shelling, for which Kiev and Moscow blame each other," AFP reported.

Shells hit a high-voltage power line on Friday at the facility, prompting its operators to disconnect a reactor despite no radioactive leak being detected. The plant was captured by Russian forces in early March in the opening stage of the war but it is still run by its Ukrainian technicians.

United Nation's nuclear watchdog IAEA called for a halt to hostilities in the power plant site. Head of the National Center for Defense Control, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev announced, quoted by TASS, said that in the event of an accident, radioactive contamination would exceed the consequences of Chernobyl and Fukushima.

A foreign-flagged ship arrived in Ukraine on Saturday for the first time since the war started in February, and will be loaded with grain, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said.Barbados-flagged general cargo ship Fulmar S entered the Ukrainian port of Chernomorsk.

Under the July 22 Istanbul Agreement it will be loaded with grain and allowed to sail, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said yesterday. According to him, this is a sign for shipowners that the "grain corridor" is a safe and profitable business opportunity to return to Ukrainian ports, UNIAN reports.

4 ships loaded with Ukrainian corn have already sailed from Ukrainian ports after the signing of the Istanbul Agreement, and 4 more are due to sail today. Despite the war, farmers in Ukraine will harvest about 52 million tons of grain and 13-15 million tons of oilseeds this year, Ukraine's Deputy Agrarian Minister Taras Vysotsky was quoted as saying by Ukrinform.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Caretaker Premier Dimitar Glavchev

Caretaker Premier Glavchev: It is important for Bulgaria to have a regular government

Caretaker Premier Dimitar Glavchev said from Washington that he did not know why the president had not yet announced a date for handing over the second exploratory mandate to form a government. "Surely, President Rumen Radev has some considerations..

published on 7/12/24 8:48 AM

Deep Purple, Mr. Big and Accept special guests at the festival Midalidare - Rock in the Wine Valley

13 bands from abroad will perform on the big stage of the 4 th edition of Midalidare - Rock in the Wine Valley , 12-14 July, alongside the headliners Deep Purple, Mr. Big and Accept, among them Axel Rudi Pell, Hammerfall, Beast in Black, The..

published on 7/12/24 7:05 AM

Orange weather alert for dangerously hot weather nationwide

On Friday the weather will be sunny and hot. Clouds will form in the afternoon but there will only be isolated showers in some parts in Eastern Bulgaria. Minimum temperatures 20-24° C., for Sofia 20° C., maximum 34-39° C., for Sofia 34° C...

published on 7/11/24 6:10 PM