War in Ukraine: Global alarm over Zaporizhia nuclear plant attack

Another night of chaos in Ukraine with the Russian invasion having now entered 9th day of. Alarm signaled on Friday morning (4/3) after nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, the largest in Europe, in central Ukraine, was hit during bombing of the Russian armywhich caused a fire.

The safety of the installation is “guaranteed”, according to Kyivwho accused Moscow of “nuclear terrorism”.

“Following bombing of Russian forces against him nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, “There was a fire,” Andriy Touz said in a video he uploaded to the installation’s Telegram account.

«The safety of the nuclear power plant is now guaranteed. “According to factory executives, the fire broke out in a building where employees were trained and in a laboratory”, he later reassured via Facebook Alexander Staruchtheir commanders Ukrainian military forces in Zaporizhia. He clarified that firefighters were able to reach the scene.

However, a spokesman for the emergency services said shortly afterwards that Russian troops had prevented firefighters from going to the factory.

Radioactivity level unchanged, says International Atomic Energy Agency

The level of radioactivity the facility, which measures six reactors and provides much of the electricity consumed by the country, remains unchanged, assured from his own side o International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)as reported by AMPE, according to which no reactor was hit.

Earlier, the IAEA issued an urgent appeal “to stop the use of force” at the nuclear plant, warning of “a very serious risk if the reactors are hit”.

Zelensky accuses Russia of wanting a repeat of Chernobyl

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for “Nuclear terrorism”that wanted to “repeat” the Chernobyl disaster – where it unfolded worst nuclear accident in history in 1986-, shortly after informing US President Joe Biden.

“We are warning the whole world that no other country is outside Russia never opened fire on nuclear plants. It is the first time in our history, the first time in the history of mankind. “This terrorist state is now resorting to nuclear terrorism,” Mr Zelensky said in a video uploaded to the Ukrainian presidency’s website.

“THE Ukraine counts fifteen nuclear reactors. If someone explodes, it will be the end of everything. The end of Europe. Europe must be evacuated “he continued.

“Only if Europe acts immediately will it be able to stop the Russian troops. “Europe must not be in danger of dying from a nuclear disaster.”

Communication Biden – Zelensky

THE White House announced after Biden’s meeting with Zelensky that the US president was joining his voice with his Ukrainian counterpart, calling on Russia to “stop its military activity in the area” of the plant and “allow access to firefighters” and in rescue teams “.

THE Washington He also assured that according to the information available to him, there is no increase in the level of radioactivity in Zaporizhia.

The February 24thbattles had broken out around the former nuclear plant at Chernobyl, about a hundred kilometers north of Kiev. This area is now in the hands of Russian troops.

In his statements on Russian television yesterday, Thursday, the Russian president Vladimir Putin made it clear that no one can hope that the attack he ordered will stop soon.

“The special military operation is being carried out according to plan, according to the plan,” he said, paying tribute to Russian soldiers and their “valuable struggle against neo-Nazis” and “foreign mercenaries” who use civilians as “human shields”. »In Ukraine.

In Russia, Facebook sites and several independent and foreign media outlets were partially inaccessible earlier today. Later in the day, a draft law is expected to be debated in the State Duma that provides for 15 years in prison for any publication or reproduction of “fake news” about the Russian military.

The Russian army is escalating the attacks

Russian forces are stepping up their attacks on major Ukrainian cities. Kyiv yesterday accused Moscow of bombing a district of Chernihiv on the way to Kyiv. killing 33 people. A local official complained that the Russian air force had bombed two schools, posting photos of the demolished buildings.

THE Vladimir Putin His French counterpart appeared to erase any hopes of mediation yesterday, saying on the phone to Emanuel Macron that Moscow “intends to continue its uncompromising struggle against members of nationalist organizations who are committing war crimes and committing war crimes.” to demilitarize and neutralize Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.

“The worst is yet to come”Mr. Putin intends to “occupy” the whole of Ukraine, the Elysee judged.

New negotiations

Russians and Ukrainians met yesterday at the Polish / Belarusian border for a second round of talks, during which Kyiv hoped to secure a ceasefire agreement. But “There were no results he wanted” Ukraine, in addition to the agreement “to organize humanitarian corridors” for the evacuation of civilians, said via Twitter Mikhail Podoliak, a member of the Ukrainian delegation.

Over a million refugees have already left Ukraine and may follow the same path as another ten million people, according to the UN.

The Russian military seems to be stepping up its firepower to accelerate the occupation of strategically important cities. It took over Hersonissos yesterday morning, a metropolis of 290,000 inhabitants near the Crimean peninsula.

East, at Mariupol, the mayor accused Moscow of wanting to besiege his city. The large port in the Sea of ​​Azov, a key to the advance of Russian forces, is currently “resisting”, according to the Ukrainian army.

The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Brussels overnight, where he will hold talks with NATO and EU officials today, before heading to Poland, the three Baltic states and Moldova.

The latter country, which fears it could become Moscow’s next target, announced yesterday that it had formally applied to join the European Union, as did Georgia, following the example of Ukraine.