(ANSA) - ZAPORIZHZHIA, 14 AGO - The risk of disaster at
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant occupied by Russian
troops is "increasing every day", the mayor of the city where
the facility is located said Sunday. The Zaporizhzhia power
plant -- Europe's largest -- was seized by Russian soldiers in
the opening days of the invasion and has remained on the front
line ever since. This week the facility has come under fire
repeatedly, with Kyiv and Moscow trading blame for the dangerous
escalation. The mayor of the southeastern city of Energodar,
where the plant is located, told AFP "the risks are increasing
every day". "What is happening there is outright nuclear
terrorism," Dmytro Orlov told AFP by telephone from the city of
Zaporizhzhia, which remains under Ukrainian control. "It can end
unpredictably at any moment." Kyiv has accused Moscow of basing
troops and weapons in the station, launching attacks and using
the atomic plant as a shield from returning fire. In his
televised address Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky accused Russia of nuclear "blackmail" and using the
plant to "intimidate people in an extremely cynical way". "The
situation is hazardous, and what causes the most concern is that
there is no de-escalation process," said Orlov. (ANSA).
© Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved