As a result of hostilities, the 750 kV line Kyivska-Chernobyl was damaged. This de-energized the Chernobyl NPP and all nuclear facilities in the Exclusion Zone: SNF storage-1, dry SNF storage-2 and the New Safe Confinement (NSC) were left without power supply.
"Emergency diesel generators (DG) have been turned on to power systems important to safety. Diesel fuel reserve is enough for 48 hours. At the same time, according to my information, there are no DGs at SNF storage-1," says Olha Kosharna, an independent expert on nuclear energy.
It should be noted that SNF storage-1 is a wet-type storage facility for storing spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from the High Power Channel-type Reactors of the Chernobyl NPP. And dry SNF storage-2 is a dry storage facility for SNF of the Chernobyl NPP.
More than 20,000 fuel assemblies (FA) of High Power Channel-type Reactors that Chernobyl NPP is equipped with are stored in the SNF storage-1 pool. To remove residual heat, it is necessary to cool the fuel assemblies. This process was provided by pumping. If the pumps do not work, heat generation will not be removed, the water in the pool could become very hot with the possible formation of radioactive steam and subsequent melting of the fuel assemblies. It is not difficult to guess that such processes can lead to a severe accident.
Also, stopped ventilation systems will lead to an increase in the radiation dose of the personnel. Emissions of radioactive gases and vapors will spread to the territory not only of Ukraine, but also of Belarus and the Russian Federation. If there is no ventilation at the NSC, there will be an increase in the level of radiation in doses dangerous for the personnel.
"The lack of electricity will not affect dry SNF storage-2, since concrete containers are installed in concrete modules, and cooling occurs due to natural ventilation," Kosharna clarified.
In her opinion, the actions of the Russian occupiers fall under Article 2 of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and Article 7 of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (the Russian Federation is a Party to these conventions). These crimes should entail tough sanctions from the world community, taking into account the gravity of the crime and criminal prosecution of the perpetrators and the terrorist state—the Russian Federation.
"The IAEA, unfortunately, demonstrates complete impotence on the situation with the seizure of nuclear facilities in Ukraine and confines itself only to appeals to the Russian Federation, without calling the Russian Federation a nuclear terrorist state. It is necessary to initiate criminal cases in international courts and hold the Russian Federation accountable. It is also necessary to impose sanctions on Rosatom and exclude the Russian Federation from all nuclear associations of the world and European ones," Kosharna noted.
The growth of the likelihood of an accident has increased many times over, so the nuclear scientists of the world must unite and put pressure on their governments to prevent another nuclear accident.
Recall that Ukraine lost the system for monitoring the radiation situation in the Chernobyl zone on the second day after the Russian aggressor invaded our land
Read also
Ukraine's Recovery: How to Change Critically Low Citizen Engagement Indicators?
The future has already arrived: blockchain technologies in the global economy and everyday life
