We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/ScriptUkraine IAEA Nuclear Report HEADLINE: IAEA Warns of Damage, Potential Catastrophe at Ukraine Nuclear Plant TEASER: Ukraine demands UN force Russia to demilitarize Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant or face sanctions PUBLISHED: 9/7/2022 at 1:05PM BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: London VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: Tom Turco, MAS VIDEO SOURCE (S): Syple, Reuters, APTN, AFP PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 2:59 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: VPKGN EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[Russia has denied that it is housing military equipment at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine - Europe’s largest atomic power station. Inspectors from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, published their report Tuesday calling for a safe zone to be put in place around the plant, following months of shelling that has damage parts of the facility. As Henry Ridgwell reports, Ukraine says the IAEA report doesn’t go far enough.]] Inna Holikova is preparing for a nuclear disaster. She’s collecting medicines for herself and her 2-year-old son Oleksandr – to counter any radiation leak from the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. ((Inna Holikova, Resident of Zaporizhzhia City (in Russian) )) “I came here to get the iodine potassium pills, so if there is a catastrophe, we will be able to take it and save our lives. I hope we won't need it.” ((NARRATOR)) IAEA inspectors Tuesday reported extensive damage to the plant, including to a building that houses fresh nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. The inspectors were forced to take cover from nearby shelling during their visit. ((Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General (in English))) “We are playing with fire and something very, very catastrophic could take place.” ((NARRATOR))
The U.N.’s secretary-general called for a protection zone around the site. ((António Guterres, U.N. Secretary-General (in English))) “That would include a commitment by Russian forces to withdraw all military personnel and equipment from that perimeter and a commitment by Ukrainian forces not to move into it.”
((NARRATOR)) IAEA inspectors witnessed Russian military personnel and equipment at the site, including military trucks stationed in two turbine halls. Ukraine says Russia is shelling the area as part of a false flag operation. ((Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (in Ukrainian) )) “I believe that the world not only deserves, but also needs the representatives of the IAEA to force Russia to demilitarize the territory of the plant and return full control to Ukraine.” ((NARRATOR))
Russia on Wednesday denied military equipment is stored there – and blamed Ukraine for the attacks. ((Vladimir Putin, Russian President (in Russian))) “We're shooting at ourselves, are we? It is utter nonsense. There is no other way to describe it.” ((NARRATOR))
The six nuclear reactors at the site are well protected – but not indestructible. ((Paul Norman, Professor of Nuclear Physics at University of Birmingham)) ((cf. Skype logo)) “They have very thick, concrete containments that are meters thick of concrete, and then inside of that, inside of each building, you have a reactor with a pressure vessel that is almost a foot thick of steel.” ((NARRATOR))
The main grid power lines to the site are damaged. Its cooling systems are currently powered by a backup line from the plant’s generator itself. Diesel generators are a last resort.
((Oleh Korikov, Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate (in Ukrainian))) “To bring such an amount of diesel to the station through the frontline is very difficult at the moment.”
((NARRATOR)) A total loss of power would force a shutdown of the reactor cooling systems. ((Paul Norman, Professor of Nuclear Physics at University of Birmingham)) ((cf. Skype logo)) “In that case the reactors’ fuel can overheat, and you are potentially then going into a meltdown-type scenario.” ((NARRATOR))
Ukraine’s government says it is exploring whether the plant can be shut down. Currently, only one of the plant’s six reactors is operating.
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline) London
Embargo DateSeptember 7, 2022 16:01 EDT
Byline((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
