Russian troops plant explosives near 4 nuclear reactors at Zaporizhzhia NPP

Russian troops moved vehicles charged with explosives to four of the six nuclear reactors at Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the head of Ukraine's Main Directorate military intelligence (GUR), Kyrylo Budanov, said in his interview with The New Statement. It is unclear if the International Atomic Energy Agency was granted access to these units during its visit on 15 June 2023. Russia has completed preparations for an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) that Russian forces occupied in March 2022, Kyrylo Budanov warned. According to Kyrylo Budanov, Russian troops mined the cooling pond of the nuclear plant. If Russian forces carry out their plan, the cooling of the nuclear reactors at ZNPP may be disrupted.

"Nuclear reactors without cooling can melt down in 10 hours to 14 days," Kyrylo Budanov said. "The plan for a terrorist attack on ZNPP has been drafted and approved. The Russians can use technical means to accelerate the nuclear disaster."

The Russians can also cause an accident at ZNPP by increasing the voltage on the power supply lines to the nuclear plant, according to Budanov.

"The situation has never been as serious as it is now," Budanov said.

According to Budanov, Russia may cause radiation leak to create a nuclear disaster zone in order to stop the further advance of Ukraine's Armed Forces in southern Ukraine and freeze the front line in its current form. Related:

Russian troops plant explosives near 4 nuclear reactors at Zaporizhzhia NPP – Ukraine’s intel