Blame traded on threat to nuclear plant

Russia and Ukraine accused each other Wednesday of plotting to stage an attack on Europe's biggest nuclear power plant, where the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned of potential catastrophe from nearby military clashes.

The two countries have blamed each other for shelling that has repeatedly downed power lines essential to cool the plant's six reactors and avoid a nuclear meltdown.

Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, said Ukrainian leadership is set to blow up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the run-up to NATO's July summit and then pin the terrorist attack on Russia, thereby dragging the alliance into the conflict.

"The objective is monstrous — to use a nuclear terrorist attack in order to place the blame on Russia and force the collective West to get directly involved in the Ukraine conflict," Slutsky wrote on his Telegram channel.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Kyiv is planning to conduct "a terrorist attack" on the Zaporizhzhia plant, but neither Washington nor London sees this as a danger.

"If anything happens, everything will be affected — the air, the water, and food," Zakharova warned.

Citing the latest intelligence reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alleged Tuesday night that Russian troops had placed "objects resembling explosives" on top of several of the plant's power units to "simulate "an attack from outside.

"Their detonation should not damage power units but may create a picture of shelling from Ukraine," according to a statement from the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces.

Additional access

Experts from the UN nuclear watchdog based at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have yet to observe any indications of mines or explosives at the plant, but they need more access to be sure, the agency said on Wednesday.

IAEA experts "have in recent days and weeks inspected parts of the facility — including some sections of the perimeter of the large cooling pond — and have also conducted regular walk-downs across the site, so far without observing any visible indications of mines or explosives", an IAEA statement said.

"The IAEA experts have requested additional access that is necessary to confirm the absence of mines or explosives. In particular, access to the rooftops of reactor units 3 and 4 is essential, as well as access to parts of the turbine halls and some parts of the cooling system at the plant."

The Chinese embassy to Ukraine issued an announcement Wednesday, requesting all Chinese citizens to scan a QR code it provides to accomplish a new round of information registration.

The social media wing of the embassy also posted the Nuclear Incident Response Guide issued by the Ukrainian Ministry of Health.

"If authorities have officially announced a radiation emergency, stay indoors or get out as soon as possible," the guide said. "Stay tuned for further announcements and follow the instructions."

Reuters reported residents in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia appeared calm on Wednesday.

"I think those who have prepared themselves shouldn't be afraid," said Olena Havrylenko, a 55-year-old doctor in Zaporizhzhia, about 120 kilometers north of the power station.

She added that listening to trusted experts and following reliable news sources was critical.

Meanwhile, Russian private military Wagner group's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is in St. Petersburg, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday.

Agencies contributed to this story.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn