Russia threatens to stop the work of the Zaporizhzhia NPP

Russia's Defence Ministry is threatening to stop the operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is now under the occupation of the Russian military, the Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The Kremlin explains this statement by the alleged shelling of the Nuclear Power Plant by the Ukrainian forces.

"...if the situation related to the shelling of the nuclear plant by Ukraine continues to develop negatively, the question of switching power units 5 and 6 to the "cold reserve" may be considered, which will lead to the shutdown of the Zaporizhzhia NPP,"  Russia's Ministry of Defence says.

Russia's Ministry also once again accused Ukraine of preparing "the provocation of a man-made disaster at the Zaporizhzhia NPP."

Kremlin says that Ukraine is allegedly planning to make provocations before the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Odesa on August 19.

"The ultimate goal of the provocation is to create an exclusion zone of up to 30 km, to introduce international forces and foreign observers to the territory of the ZNPP, as well as to accuse the Russian armed forces of nuclear terrorism,"  the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

What is happening at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant?

Captured by the occupiers, the Zaporizhia NPP operates with the risk of violating radiation and fire safety standards. Russian troops regularly shell this critical facility.

On August 5, as a result of the attack of the Russian military on the Zaporizhzhya NPP, the emergency protection of one of the power units was activated. The nitrogen-oxygen station and the combined auxiliary corps were seriously damaged during the shelling.

The Ukrainian personnel of the station continues to work and make every effort to ensure nuclear and radiation safety, as well as eliminate the consequences of damage.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on August 17 that Ukraine is working with the IAEA to send a mission to the station, and the Russian army should withdraw from the territory of the NPP.