The British intelligence has recently discovered sandbags on the roofs of the six reactors of Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. These sandbags serve as defensive positions, primarily used to reinforce the security of the site. The Defense Intelligence, the military intelligence service of the UK, shared photos of the sandbags on Twitter. They believe that these are the first signs of Russia considering the reactors as tactical defense points. Furthermore, the Russian army is anticipating a possible Ukrainian attack, hence the position reinforcement.
However, the presence of these sandbags poses a risk to the safety functions of the nuclear power plant if there is any fighting in the vicinity. Although direct catastrophic damage may be unlikely, it is still a cause for concern for the UK secret service. Also, considering the occupied status of the nuclear power plant by Russian troops since March 2022, it’s important to ensure that the safety functions are not compromised.
Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defense has been sharing daily updates on the course of the war, provided by their secret services. The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has been subject to rocket attacks several times since early March. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for a security zone to be set up around the nuclear power plant. Even Rosatom, the Russian company operating the nuclear power plant, assured that they would support the IAEA initiative.
However, last week the IAEA reported that the experts stationed there heard shelling almost every day, and one day they had to seek protection. Currently, the nuclear power plant is receiving electricity required for safety functions via a 750 kV line from outside. Previously, there were four such power lines. Additionally, the water level in the Kakhovska reservoir has risen back to the normal level of 16.2 meters, which supplies the cooling water to the nuclear power plant.
In conclusion, the presence of sandbags on the reactor buildings of Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear power plant adds to the concerns and risks during an ongoing war, especially if the safety functions of the nuclear power plant get compromised. Therefore, measures must be taken to ensure that the safety of the nuclear power plant is not jeopardized by the fighting nearby, and the IAEA’s initiative of a security zone must be taken into careful consideration.
