By KYIV. Nov 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Russia is trying to achieve full administrative control over the Zaporizhis NPP and act as a guarantor of preventing a nuclear catastrophe, using the shelling of the station in its information campaign aimed at discrediting Ukraine, according to a report by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
“The Kremlin, having gained administrative control of Ukrainian nuclear assets, compel elements of the international community to recognize Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory at least obliquely,” the message reads.
The report says that the Russian Federation uses the situation at the ZNPP in its information campaign against Ukraine aimed at discrediting the latter and taking the station under its full control in the future to prevent a possible nuclear catastrophe and recognition by the international community of the annexation of Ukrainian territories.
The scientists noted that significant damage was caused during the two days of shelling of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
According to them, one Russian blogger referred to a video of the shelling filmed by Chechen occupiers and stated that the shelling was conducted from positions in the territory controlled by Russia south of the NPP, and not in the territory controlled by Ukraine, north of the facility.
“Artillery strikes themselves are unlikely to penetrate the containment units protecting each nuclear reactor and instead pose a greater threat to the spent nuclear fuel storage facilities, which could leak radioactive material and cause a radiological (as opposed to nuclear) disaster if compromised,” the analysts’ report reads
As reported, according to the results of the inspection of the Zaporizhia NPP after the recent shelling, the IAEA experts did not register a direct threat to nuclear safety, according to the statement of head of the IAEA Rafael Grossi.
Earlier on Monday, Energoatom reported that on the morning of November 20, as a result of numerous Russian attacks, at least 12 "arrivals" were recorded at the site of the Zaporizhia NPP, which damaged exactly the equipment, the failure of which makes it impossible to take any further actions to launch the power units of the NPP.
