LVIVA nuclear power plant Zaporizhiais located in the south of Ukraine and believed to be the largest in Europe, was left completely without power after Russian bombings damaged the only two highvoltage power lines connecting the plant to the grid this Wednesday, April 2 releasing grain produced by Ukraine for export and the UN refusal to investigate Kiev’s biological weapons stockpile.
THE energy atomthe state operator of nuclear power plants in Ukraine, reported on its Telegram account about the electrical shutdown of the power plant located on Ukrainian territory, but currently under Russian military control. “Yesterday, November 2, 2022, the two remaining highvoltage lines connecting the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant to the electricity grid of Ukraine were damaged as a result of a Russian bombing raid. The facility lost power at 11:04 p.m. local time,” he explained.
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Responders at the scene of a Russian missile attack in Zaporizhia, Ukraine, on Monday, October 10, 2022. Photo: Archives/Nicole Tung/The New York Times
The company added, For safety reasons, the facility’s 20 backup diesel generators were switched on. The facility currently has enough electricity to meet its own needs as only nine diesel generators are in operation. Power plants No. 5 and No. 6, which were active, are currently being shut down after the bombings, Energoatom pointed out.
“There is enough diesel to back up the generators for 15 days if the power to the plant is left completely off. But the countdown is on until Zaporizhia’s total energy loss.” He added that “Ukraine’s ability to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant has been compromised due to the Russian occupation and intrusion by representatives of Rosatom, Russia’s stateowned nuclear power company, which controls Zaporizhia has taken over, in the management of the power plant is significantly restricted.
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The situation at the nuclear power plant, the third largest in the world, worries Ukraine and its allied countries. as it is located in a region annexed by Russia and where fierce fighting is taking place. The plant’s facilities have been under attack since the start of the February 24 Russian invasion, blamed on Ukrainians and Russians.
Grainatrisk agreement and UN Security Council veto
Attacks on civilian infrastructure are mounting as Moscow seeks to pressure Kyiv and its western allies on fronts other than a military confrontation.
On Saturday, the Russians withdrew from the deal to allow grain and agricultural products to be exported from Ukraine, a deal struck earlier this year to ease food shortages in the international market after attacks on its Black Sea fleet impede.
According to Turkey’s Defense Ministry, six ships loaded with grain left Ukrainian ports on Thursday after Moscow confirmed a return to the deal, at least temporarily. Although it has agreed to keep the sea corridor free, which has so far enabled the export of 9.7 million tons of grain and agricultural products, Russia said it has no guarantee of extending the term of the agreement, which was signed on November 19.
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A cargo ship loaded with Ukrainian grain approaches Turkey’s Black Sea coast. Photo: Umit Bektas/Portal
On another pressure front, Russia condemned Western countries for not submitting to the rules set out for all members of the international community after the UN Security Council on Wednesday opposed a resolution proposed by Russia calling for an investigation into the alleged involvement Washington in an alleged development of biological weapons in Ukraine.
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Russia last week formally asked the UN to investigate these allegations, which it has done regularly since invading Ukraine in February. Russia and China voted in favor, Britain, the United States and France who have veto power voted against, and ten other countries abstained.
The text called for “the establishment of a commission composed of all members of the Security Council to investigate allegations against the United States and Ukraine,” two signatories to the convention that bans the development, production and use of biological weapons.
Russian Ambassador Dmitry Polianski regretted the result of the vote and condemned the attitude of Western countries, which “showed that the rules do not apply to them. It’s a common colonial mentality. We’re used to it, we’re not even surprised,” he added, promising his country will resume denunciation during the review conference of the Biological Weapons Convention, which will start in Geneva at the end of the month.
“The United States voted against this resolution because it is based on misinformation, dishonesty, bad faith and utter disregard,” US Ambassador Linda ThomasGreenfield told the Security Council. This resolution was “a sign of Russia’s deceit and lies,” and “everyone except China noticed it,” he said./EFE and AFP