Denis Monastyrsky: Energoatom has established a headquarters for round-the-clock monitoring of the situation around the Zaporizhzhya NPP
This was announced today, August 17, by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine during a briefing in Zaporizhzhia. The event was held with the participation of the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, as well as the Chairman of Energoatom. We discussed the situation around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, held a meeting and checked the readiness of all services, forces and means for possible threats.
“When we first met with the capture of the station, and at the station, I recall, there was a guard from the National Guard, and in fact no one could predict that Russian troops would shoot from tanks at the NPP blocks. This was the first time in our history of observing nuclear objects. We understand that we are dealing with a terrorist state, and accordingly, all responsibility for what is happening at the station lies with the Russian Federation,” the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
He recalled that the NPP is the largest nuclear power station in Europe. The bodies of the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine are preparing for various scenarios.
Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Halushchenko assured that everything that is happening now is a classic sign of nuclear terrorism.
According to the leaders, at the moment there are about 500 armed soldiers of the Russian army at the station, who have placed heavy equipment there, namely almost 50 units: BMP, military Urals, tanks.
According to the chairman of Energoatom Petro Kotin, one of the likely scenarios is the disconnection of Zaporizhzhya NPP from the Ukrainian network, which as a result will not be able to work. He stressed: “What is bad is that in the last 2-3 weeks they drove the equipment to the engine rooms of power units No. 1 and No. 2. In fact, it means that the power unit has been mined, because we think the trucks have explosives and other explosives and weapons.”
Regarding emergency situations, as well as evacuation of citizens, Denis Monastyrsky said: “They are designed. Now, in fact, the purpose of our visit was to summarize the readiness of forces and means. It is difficult for us to predict what other scenarios to expect from the enemy.”
According to him, at the moment Energoatom has established a headquarters, which includes all the forces of rescuers, police and representatives of local authorities. They will respond according to the threat. It will work 24 to 7 andwill conduct online monitoring of the situation around the Zaporizhzhya NPP.
Regarding possible reactions from international organizations, the leaders stressed that they have been waiting for it from the first days of the power seizure of the station.
Herman Halushchenko said: “From the first days we have been talking about what the reaction of international organizations should be. The real question is that the mission, which is now being widely discussed, should involve UN military experts, because today the issue is already related to the military, after what they have done there. We hope that this possible mission to the station will be able to somehow stop the audacity that is taking place there, but it is difficult to count on rational behavior on the part of the Russians,” Galushchenko added.
During the briefing, the leaders got acquainted with the work of the special point, the conduct of radiation reconnaissance, the work of the mobile advisory point for training and informing the population.
They also saw the possibilities of a special machine unique for Ukraine, which monitors chemical and radiation pollution of the surrounding territory.
During the working visit, Denis Monastyrsky held an extended meeting with the heads of central and local authorities on the situation around the Zaporizhzhya NPP. Also, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the head of the National Police introduced the new head of the Main Department of the National Police in the Zaporizhzhya region Artem Kisko.
“Here, in Zaporizhzhia, the police are actually a brother of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, the Zaporizhzhya police officers remain at the forefront,” the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine noted.
