Russians promise to launch one power unit of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The expert explained whether this is possible.

Russia is preparing to launch the power unit of the Zaporizhzhia NPP under its control

The expert in nuclear energy and safety, Olga Kosharnaya, claims that the Russians have the ability to launch the power unit of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which has been under their control since March 2022. This information she disclosed in the article 'Zaporizhzhia NPP: three years in occupation. How Russian priests and soldiers 'launch' the reactor' on the Glavkom website.

According to Kosharnaya, the Russians received a license for the handling of sources of ionizing radiation back last autumn.

The expert states that the Russians can put into operation at least one power unit. They also plan to build a pumping station on the Konka River in the Kherson region, as the Konka is a powerful river with sufficient water resources that can support the operation of two power units of the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

Kosharnaya also mentioned that the Russians are trying to obtain a license for the operation of a dry storage for spent nuclear fuel at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, and this license will be for power unit No. 1. Thus, their goal is to put into operation at least one power unit.

It is noted that in the event of Ukraine regaining control over the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the station may be left mined and looted, just as it happened with the Chernobyl NPP. Earlier, the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, Herman Halushchenko, reported over 30 massive attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure by the Russians since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.