How russia carries out nuclear terror

The third week of the Russian-Ukrainian war continues. Although many in the world began to call it the Third World War, international organizations do not rush to use all the tools available to them against the aggressor. Although, it would seem, that could scare Europe stronger than the capture of Chernobyl and ZNPP. Currently, Ukraine in the face of the State Nuclear Regulatory Agency – the nuclear regulator – cannot control the situation and does not even have full information about what is happening in the Exclusion Zone or the largest Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Europe. So the world does not have reliable information too. Which, however, does not rush it to close the sky over nuclear facilities in Ukraine, nor to apply sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry, which officially seizes Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

What is happening at ChNPP

The whole world probably already knows that March 12 lasted for the 17th day, as the personnel of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is held hostage. Every day without rotation – that is, without days off and with minimal rest, besides working at gunpoint of the aggressor – courageously and heroically, this change performs its functions to ensure the safe operation of all objects included in the state specialized enterprise.

These are Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facilities – СВЯП-1 (wet type), СВЯП-2 (dry type, built by the American company Holtec International); a new secure confinement of the Shelter object, consolidated with the financial participation of donor countries under the financial auspices of the EBRD); units № 1, 2, 3 Ch NPP, which are in the "decommissioning" state. All these objects, like the Exclusion Zone itself, on the first day of the war captured and controlled by the Russian military

Which in the first days destroyed the Automated Radiation Control System of the Exclusion Zone, due to which Ukraine, IAEA and the whole world do not have access to information about the radiation background on the territory of the zone. Information about the condition at the sites is transmitted by the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which is permanently located at the nuclear regulatory station – the State Nuclear Regulatory Agency (SNIRU). According to this information, the safety parameters of the Chernobyl NPP objects are still normal. The key here is yet.

After all, a week or two ago almost nobody could have predicted that the occupants could destroy the power supply to the Exclusion Zone (together Slavutich – the city of nuclear power plants from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, where the personnel working at the station and its facilities live). As it turned out later, breakthroughs of the Kyiv-Chernobyl ВЛ-750 occurred in several places.

The cynicism of the Russian occupiers also lies in the fact that although nuclear risks from de-energization were reported, they spent a whole day spending time to prevent the repair brigade and use the situation against Ukraine. They even invented the connection of Chernobyl to electricity from Belarus, which is technically impossible. And the time was needed – as of March 9, when the Chernobyl power plant was de-energized, it was known that there was fuel for diesel generators, to which all Chernobyl facilities were connected, for only two days.

The opportunity to reach the place of damage to the ВЛ-750 at Ukrenergo repair crews appeared only on March 10. And the accident on one of the plots was eliminated. And even for a short period of time, light appeared. But... It turned out that there are other damages, so as of March 13, repair work on the ВЛ-750 of Kyiv-Chernobyl NPP was not comp

However, there is information, that the station received additional volumes of diesel fuel. Some experts initially said that de-energizing ChNPP facilities would not create any special radiation threats. Even the State Atomic Regulation in the initial certificate for the IAEA stated that there were no risks (experts from the regulator say that these risks from their draft were removed for some inexplicable purpose by the temporary head of the inspection, who was appointed shortly before the start of the war). THE IAEA has also reassured the world that there is nothing critical about Russian nuclear terrorism.

But in the following certificate on March 10, the SNIRU noted that in case of complete de-energization of the СВЯП-1 object, in particular the emergency one, in case of loss of ventilation system performance, "explosive hydrogen concentrations can be formed due to radiolysis reaction."

At the same time, since diesel fuel was delivered (volumes are unknown), and Ukrainian repairmen got access to the networks (Ukrenergo does not report details, but notes that repairs are ongoing), we keep the alarmist moods with us for now. But we mean that de-energization can lead to a severe accident on one of the Chernobyl objects, the radioactive cloud from which can affect not only the aggressor countries, but also Ukraine and the European Union countries.

We also mean that nuclear terrorist Russia is capable of any provocations contrary to common sense, life and health of its own citizens, not to mention Ukraine or European countries.

Currently, Russian occupiers use the Chernobyl zone, which borders Belarus, as a corridor for their troops, which are pulled up for the attack on Kyiv. In addition, from the territory of the Republic of Belarus through the Chernobyl exclusion zone, the supply of fuel and other material resources for the occupation troops continues. There is infrastructure and will not shoot the Armed Forces. Sorry.

The territory of Zaporizhzhia NPP is also used. Where the situation looks even more threatening, since the station is operating, has irradiated nuclear fuel both in the pier storage (also dry type), and in reactors, and in the pools of aging on power units.

What is happening at ZNPP?

Everyone has already heard and seen the footage of how ZNPP was captured. They know that only the National Guard defended it and that there was no strengthening of Zaporizhzhya NPP protection. Contrary to the statement of Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko, who half a day before ZNPP seizure told on the national telemarathon that it is impossible and the station is guarded by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Actually not. Strange thing, but a few days before the start of the war and the capture of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the Exclusion Zone of the President of Energoatom Petro Kotin also told all the media that in case of an attack, Russia is under control, and the protection of all (!) Nuclear power plants, including Chernobyl, are properly strengthened.

As the Russian Federation destroyed the perimeter of physical safety of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the administrative building and conducted a sighting fire on the power units of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which caused a large fire, could watch the whole world – YouTube broadcast images from surveillance cameras. As a result of the military actions, the infrastructure of the International Training Center was destroyed at ZNPP, which has three modern full-scale simulators for the training of licensed NPP operators. The training complex with a real reactor and basic equipment of the reactor compartment was destroyed, which was built for many years, in particular with the money of the European Commission (Tacis project).

They fired heavy weapons both at the first unit and at the pier storage of spent nuclear fuel. At the sixth power unit due to the ZNPP site shelling, the oil system of the block transformer was damaged by the Russian military. The power unit is put into emergency repairs, but in conditions of occupation it is difficult to bring the necessary equipment and the appropriate highly specialized repair personnel to the site. An additional threat is unexploded mines and shells that were left behind by the Russian military. It was also reported that the coast of the Kakhovka reservoir bordered by ZNPP was replaced.

Now Energodar and ZNPP, like the Chernobyl zone, is a transshipment point for the occupier's troops. According to local authorities, the occupiers in the city are about half a thousand, the vast majority of them are at the nuclear power plant. And also about 50 units of heavy equipment. It is difficult to imagine the psychological state of the nuclear power plant personnel, who should be checked by the Rashist Orks every time.

A few days ago, representatives of "Rosatom" arrived at the occupied station – about 11 people. The most prominent of them are Chief Engineer of Balakov NPP Oleg Romanenko and Deputy Chief Engineer for repairs of Rostov NPP Ivan Malakhov. Both previously worked at Ukrainian nuclear power plants. According to the representative of this group, they were sent to assess nuclear and radiation safety after shelling and seizure of the station, as well as to assist with repairs. But the station does not need their services – requires exclusively exemption from the occupiers. Therefore, the more real reason for their appearance is the refusal of pro-Ukrainian ZNPP personnel to cooperate with the invaders. And, according to the station employees, these persons were sent to redirect electricity generated by ZNPP to the temporarily occupied Crimea and Donbas by the Rashists. Now it is technically impossible.

Can the situation be prevented

Member of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society Olga Kosharna emphasizes that the actions of the occupants violate three International Conventions at once: Article 2 of the International Convention on Combating Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, Article 7 of the Convention "On Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials," and the International Convention on Combating Hostage-Taking, because it is in hostage that the occupants hold the CHpersonnel from the first day of the war. This proves that Russia is a nuclear terrorist. It destroyed the international nuclear-radiation safety regime, which was built for decades, including after the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Destroyed the global security system in general. However, all the international organizations that have taken care of its creation, such as the UN, the IAEA, only express deep concern about it.

Now we see complete inaction, or even, as Ms. Kosharna says, the impotence of world organizations that could take measures that would give at least some assurance to nuclear facilities that they will not be used in this war for blackmail or as a mine coin. In other words, give the occupier by hand, if not spit in the face. First of all, we are talking about the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). But not for that, the Russians for many decades fed the IAEA with funding, embedding their proven personnel in its organ structure, working groups, governing bodies, so that it in the current situation at least managed to call the war that Russia unleashed against Ukraine a war. And even more so, take some measures directed against the Russian Federation.

"Conflict" or "situation". That is how the head of IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, calls daily murder of Ukrainian children and civilian population, destruction of residential districts, marauding, taking hostages, and shelling nuclear objects in his every speech. And, besides seizing Zaporizhzhia and Chornobyl NPPs, russian orks shot twice at Kharkiv Physics and Technology Institute, including an attempt from Grads. "The source of neutrons," a nuclear unit based on subcritical assembly, is located there. When the war began, on February 24, operational staff transferred the unit into a deep subcritical condition to ensure its safe state. However, nuclear fuel remains in the unit unextracted.

It took Grossi two weeks to tear his ass off safe Vienna and go to talks with foreign ministers in no less safe Turkey. Where he found nothing better than to take such a "neutral" – but in fact pro-Russian position – that it outraged the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Following the talks, Dmytro Kuleba said that at a meeting in Antalya, Kyiv was offered to hold tripartite consultations with the IAEA and the Russian regulator. "I told Mr. Grossi, the director of the IAEA:" Why should I apologize for my diplomacy, the Russian nuclear regulator will participate in consultations on the Ukrainian nuclear power plant? If you are principled people, if you stand up for certain rights, then you have to say to the Russians: “Kish. They went beyond nuclear facilities, demilitarized nuclear facilities and handed them over to the control of Ukrainian and IAEA specialists,” the Ukrainian minister summed up the unsuccessful talks. In fact, this is exactly the position of the IAEA voiced by the diplomat, Ukraine has been waiting for more than two weeks. But obviously in vain. And it is unlikely that his position will change in Kyiv, where Grossi has finally announced his arrival.

What can the world community do?

Olga Kosharna believes that it is necessary not to express deep concern in words, but to stifle sanctions, and her nuclear industry, too. So far, no sanctions have been imposed on Rosatom, despite well-known information that Russia has already identified the captured Ukrainian nuclear power plants as Rosatom's sphere of management.

On March 10, the White House for the first time began discussing the possibility of imposing sanctions on Rosatom. Discuss with your energy professionals, assessing the possible consequences for yourself. Positions were divided. According to Bloomberg, NPP operators believe that sanctions are inappropriate because Russian uranium and its enrichment are cheaper than in other countries. At the same time, Bloomberg notes that on the other hand, the sanctions will have a positive impact on US uranium mining companies – in particular, Energy Fuels Inc. and Ur-Energy Inc. In addition, uranium is available in Canada, Australia and finally in Ukraine – although we need to invest in its production, but we have the largest uranium deposits in Europe. Finally, NPP operators have nuclear fuel reserves for more than a year, and there is either an emir or a donkey. outright cynicism. Maybe the position will change after Iran's shelling of the US consulate tonight

And even the problem of cheaper Russian uranium can be easily solved if there were steel (or at least some) "eggs" in the United States. If the United States understood that the war in Ukraine was not a local military conflict, not the capture of a member of the nuclear club of a country with developed nuclear energy and science, but the probable beginning of World War III.

There are solutions, even with strategic dividends for the US nuclear industry itself. Thus, the president of the Center for Global Studies "Strategy XXI" Mykhailo Honchar believes that the assets of Rosatom structures, which own uranium deposits not only in Russia, can be seized for nuclear terrorism. After all, Uranium One Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Rosatom, which has extensive activities in the extraction and sale of uranium raw materials, has assets in the United States. It is managed by Russia's Techsnabexport (TENEX), which has 25 contracts to supply uranium products to the United States worth $ 6.5 billion with a supply horizon of 2028.

There are other assets, there are memberships in various research centers, such as ITER, the exclusion of which will significantly affect (and may not forgive these sufferings) Russian science. But the EU generally ignores nuclear issues, although it is a little concerned about radiation risks.

That is, there are options for sanctions against Rosatom. But only the Council of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), which suspended cooperation with the Russian Federation and its institutions and succeeded in abolishing observer status for Russia, succeeded.

From time to time, one of the Russian politicians confidently declares that in this war Moscow will not stop at capturing Lviv. So how many more nuclear reactors in the EU do the mad dwarf have to seize in order for the United States and Europe to wake up and move from a state of extreme concern to real action. However, there is another option – when one of the occupiers decides to shoot again at nuclear facilities. And no one is safe from the northeast wind.