Russian occupiers plan risky “hot shutdown” of ZNPP, potentially causing nuclear accident – Ukraine’s Energoatom

The Russian occupying forces are going to put power unit No. 4 at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant into a state of "hot shutdown."

Energoatom reported that on Telegram.

As reported by the company, the pseudo-manager of the station Yuriy Chernichuk has already issued the relevant order.

"However, taking into account the Russians' destruction of the Kakhovka HPP dam, the Kakhovka reservoir is dehydrated, and therefore, when a larger number of power units are put into operation, the water supply for cooling the reactors may not be sufficient," emphasized Energoatom.

The experts noted that the invaders were deliberately not abiding by the ruling of the Ukrainian regulator and hadn't brought power unit No. 5 to a "cold stop."

"And therefore, in the case of the operation of two power units in a state of "hot stop," there is a real threat of an emergency situation at the station," the company emphasized.

Energoatom reported that the Ukrainian operational staff, which has been ensuring the nuclear and radiation safety of Europe's largest nuclear facility for more than a year and a half, cannot influence this situation in any way. Workers are forced to constantly endure threats and intimidation from the armed Russian military.

"Understanding the consequences of such actions, last week a part of Zaporizhzhia NPP nuclear workers left the station, not wanting to participate in the plans of the Russians. After all, with such actions, the invaders are once again endangering the whole world!" summarized the company.

Planet Labs' satellite images have picked up the appearance of new objects on the rooftop of the fourth reactor at Zaporizhzhia NPP, the mining of which had been reported by the General Staff.

What is known about the situation at the ZNPP

Ukraine's armed forces officially warn about the possible preparation of a provocation in the near future on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russian terrorists have occupied since March 4, 2022.

As noted, explosive-like objects were placed on the roofs of 2 power units.

In addition, it became known that Russian mobile radiation laboratories were spotted in the temporarily occupied Enerhodar and Mariupol.

In turn, the Ministry of Health appealed to Ukrainians that in the event of an explosion at the ZNPP, residents of the potential radiation accident zone should be prepared for possible evacuation.

On June 30, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian contingent was gradually leaving the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said that Ukraine is carefully preparing for any scenario of the development of events surrounding the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

At the end of June 2023, in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, large-scale training of emergency services was held to deal with the consequences of a possible terrorist attack at the ZNPP.

On July 5, the International Atomic Energy Agency asked the Russian military for additional access to the roofs of the ZNPP reactors to confirm the absence of mines or explosives.