A significant number of Ukrainians are attempting to depart the country, leading to queues at the border crossing to Moldova. According to Dominic Waghorn, Sky’s international affairs editor, when the Russians accuse Ukrainians of planning something, it often indicates their own intentions.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine has reported the presence of “explosive devices” placed on its roof. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of “dangerous provocations” at the facility. The Ukrainian armed forces, based on operational data, stated that the devices were positioned on the third and fourth reactors of the plant on Tuesday, raising the possibility of an attack in the near future.

President Zelenskyy disclosed intelligence information suggesting that Russian troops had planted objects resembling explosives on several power units of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, possibly to simulate an attack or for some other purpose.

Throughout the conflict, nuclear experts have repeatedly expressed concerns about the potential for a disaster at the Russian-occupied plant in southern Ukraine.

An adviser to Russia’s nuclear power operator Rosenergoatom, Renat Karchaa, alleged that Ukraine planned to drop ammunition containing nuclear waste from another nuclear station onto the Zaporizhzhia plant. Karchaa claimed that Ukraine’s military intended to attack the facility on Wednesday using long-range precision equipment and kamikaze attack drones. However, both Karchaa and Ukraine provided no evidence to support their claims.

Dominic Waghorn, speaking from Ukraine, remarked that the recent warnings had prompted many Ukrainians to seek to leave the country, resulting in long queues at the Moldova border crossing.

The Ukrainian government has issued guidance on what actions to take in the event of a nuclear emergency. Accusations of shelling around the Zaporizhzhia plant have been traded between Moscow and Kyiv. The plant, which houses six reactors and is Europe’s largest nuclear facility, continues to pose a “serious threat,” according to President Zelenskyy, with Ukrainian intelligence indicating that Russia is “technically ready” to instigate a localized explosion.

The Ukrainian govt is issuing these guidelines for what to do in a nuclear emergency with rumours rife of an imminent nuclear incident at #Zaporizhia power plant. pic.twitter.com/JaenbF5Jn3

— Dominic Waghorn (@DominicWaghorn) July 4, 2023

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog, has been working to ensure the demilitarization of the plant and to reduce the risk of potential accidents. While the IAEA has not found any visible indications of explosives planted at the facility, they acknowledge the reports and require further access to conduct additional checks.

The primary nuclear risk at the plant arises from the overheating of nuclear fuel, which could occur if the power supply to the cooling systems is disrupted or if there is insufficient water for cooling. Shelling has frequently caused power line disruptions in the area.

Source: With Agencies