Kyiv does not intend to allow control over the nuclear power plant in Zaporozhye by Russian forces. Meanwhile, Moscow announced that the acquired installation is its legitimate acquisition – informs “Washington Post”.
As the newspaper notes, the Zaporian power plant was a symbol of Ukraine's energy independence, and thus – its economic self -sufficiency. Corresponding for 20 percent domestic electricity productionnot only satisfied internal needs, but also enabled electricity export to Europe.
Power plant turned into a military base
Currently, however, this object has become a symbol of Russia's aspirations to take control of Ukraine and subordinate its economy to its own interests. According to “Washington Post”, the Russian forces transformed the power plant into a military base, from which they are attacking on Nikopol – a city located on the other side of the Dnieper.
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Jurij Bachno, head of Nikopol's military administration, announced that after the occupation of the power plant in Zaporozhye, the Russians began training recruits there to conduct artillery fire and drones with drones on the city. As a result of these activities, 79 residents of Nikopol were killed, 400 people were injured and about 7,000 were damaged. buildings.
The White House presented its own plan regarding the power plant in Zaporozhye. President Donald Trump suggested that the United States could help in running and possibly take over Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The President of Ukraine Wołodymyr Zelanski definitely rejected this proposal, emphasizing that the nuclear power plant is the property of the Ukrainian state.
Russia claims that the power plant is its property
Moscow does not show the desire to return the infrastructure taken over. In March, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that the power plant in Zaporozhye was included in the Russian nuclear industry and the transfer of it to Ukraine or another state is excluded.
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Ukraine has recently accused Moscow of inability to ensure safety in the occupied power plant, citing reports of a huge diesel oil leak, which Russia described as “false” – wrote Reuters.
The Ukrainian side claims that the Russian power plant management, which currently does not produce electricity, has led to serious degradation of equipment and that the power plant will be able to resume operations only if it is taken over again under Ukraine's control.
The Reuters agency informs that at the end of March a small group of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (Maea) operated at the Zaporozhye Power Plant. The latest quarterly report of Maea indicates that the security situation at the facility remains unstable, and armed Russian soldiers limit access to some parts of the stations.
The boss of Maea Rafael Grossi said that though The power plant is controlled and managed by Russia in a professional waysome maintenance works may not be carried out as comprehensively as they should, which is a consequence of the ongoing conflict.
“Washington Post” points out that Russia's control over the power plant in Zaporozhye is the worst possible scenario for Ukraine. This situation means losing the key energy potential that provided the object, and the inability to return the inhabitants of Energy – a city associated with the power plant – to their homes.
