Ukraine War: Residents near Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant receive iodine generators to prevent radioactive leaks | World News
Residents near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are being given iodine tablets in case of a radioactive leak.
The move took place two days after temporarily removed factory offline because what officials say was caused by a fire that damaged a power line.
Iodine tablets, which help prevent the absorption of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland during a nuclear accident, were released in the city of Zaporizhzhia – about 45 km from the plant.
Fighting around the plant has raised fears of a potential nuclear disaster.
Shelling continues to be reported in the area, and satellite images from the Planetary Laboratory show fires burning around the complex over the past few days.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned: “Russia has put Ukraine and all Europeans in a position where there is only one step away from a possible radioactive disaster.”
Russian forces captured the plant in southern Ukraine in March and have controlled it ever since, although it is still operated by Ukrainian technicians.
The two sides have repeatedly accused each other of shelling the site.
While the UN atomic energy agency is trying to find an approach to inspect and help secure the plant – with officials saying preparations for the trip are underway – it remains unclear. when can it happen?
Nuclear experts have warned of the risk of damage to the Zaporizhzhia plant’s spent nuclear fuel storage tanks or its reactors.
Satellite images show smoke rising from a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Wednesday. Photo: PBC/AP Planetary Laboratory
The power grid collapsed in the factory
In Thursday’s incident, both sides blamed each other for the power line failure that caused the plant to go down.
It’s not clear exactly what happened, but Zelenskyy said the plant’s emergency backup diesel generators had to be activated to provide electricity to run the complex.
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Analysis: Six months of conflict
The plant requires energy to run the reactor’s critical cooling systems. Loss can lead to nuclear meltdown.
On Friday, Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s transmission system operator, reported that two damaged main lines supplying power to the plant were back in operation, ensuring a stable power supply.
The incident added to the horror of a nuclear disaster in a country still haunted by the 1986 Chernobyl explosion.
Read more:
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While Ukraine accuses Russia of using the plant as a shield by storing weapons there and launching attacks from around it, Moscow accuses Ukraine of recklessly firing on it.
The head of Ukraine’s nuclear power industry told Sky News that Employees at the factory were tortured by the Russians to force them to stay and operate the facility.
