Russia's aggression against Ukraine is Europe's sole nuclear security threat
Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Russian forces are trying to accuse the Ukrainian Armed Forces of nuclear provocations at the Kursk nuclear power plant. However, the only threat to European nuclear safety is Russian aggression against Ukraine, according to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
“This week, Russia, which systematically violates the norms of international humanitarian law and nuclear safety, has resorted to another manipulation, trying to present itself as a victim and accuse Ukraine of alleged provocations against nuclear safety,” the Ministry said.
It also emphasized that the cynicism of Russian accusations lies in the fact that this week the aggressor country committed another war crime.
Thus, Russia launched massive strikes on the critical infrastructure of Ukraine, which killed and injured civilians and damaged its energy system.
The Ministry reminded that Russian strikes on electricity generation facilities led to the disconnection of the first, third and fourth units of the Rivne NPP from the grid. The power output of the South Ukraine NPP was reduced to 1800 MW, and later, due to fluctuations caused by the Russian attack, its third unit was disconnected from the grid.
“The consequences of this week's strikes on Ukrainian energy are only the latest in a long list of Russia's crimes,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Russian attack on August 26
The Ukrainian IAEA mission reported today that Russian shelling on Monday, August 26, disrupted operations at two nuclear power plants.
Specifically, three out of four units at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant were disconnected from the grid, and the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant was forced to reduce its power output. Due to fluctuations in the national energy system, unit 3 was also disconnected from the grid.
Situation at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant
Recently, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant and stated that there is a "serious situation" regarding nuclear safety at the plant.
Today, it was reported that Russian authorities have restricted entry to the town of Kurchatov, where the Kursk NPP is located.
Earlier, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, suggested that Russia might be preparing a nuclear provocation at either the Kursk or Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants to blame Ukraine.
