World must react to Russian nuclear threats, warns expert
Oleksandr Hryhorash, an inspector at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, warns about the world's inadequate response to Russian nuclear threats, which heightens the risk of disaster. According to the expert, the issue began back in 2014 and continues to this day.
Oleksandr Hryhorash, senior control inspector at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, stressed in a conversation with the Polish Press Agency that the world is not responding adequately to Russian nuclear threats. The occupation of Ukrainian power plants by Russian forces and attacks on other nuclear facilities increase the risk of catastrophes.
Hryhorash reminded that the occupation of the Chernobyl plant by Russians in 2022 and the drone attack on the sarcophagus covering the damaged reactor are acts of nuclear terrorism.
These acts of nuclear terrorism are, in my opinion, a result of the very weak reaction of the international community to the acts committed by the Russian Federation, assessed the inspector as cited by PAP.
History and consequences
The Chernobyl disaster of 1986 led to the contamination of many regions in Europe. In 2022, Russian forces entered the plant area, causing increased radiation levels. Hryhorash pointed out that Russians have been courting nuclear danger since 2014, occupying sites like the Sevastopol Institute for Nuclear Research. The inspector emphasised that the world's response to Russia's actions should be more severe.
If there had been an international reaction as provided in international conventions, including the Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, I think all of this would not have happened, stated Hryhorash in a conversation with PAP.
On 13 February, a Russian drone damaged the Chernobyl plant sarcophagus. Although the situation is under control, expert evaluations are ongoing, and a repair plan is being developed. The new sarcophagus, implemented in 2019, was intended to secure the site for a century.
