UN warns of threat of ‘severe nuclear accident’ after Putin orders evacuation of town near nuclear power plant captured by Russia in early days of Ukraine invasion
- International Atomic Energy Agency again warns of renewed nuclear threat
- Mayor tells of humanitarian crisis as Russia rushes to evacuate occupied regions
A ‘mad panic’ has swept occupied Ukrainian territories as Russia calls to evacuate 18 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region, ahead of the awaited Ukrainian offensive.
Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, said that the order had caused chaos and five-hour long queues of cars at the checkpoint into Crimea.
The official warned a humanitarian crisis was ‘growing’ as shops stopped receiving goods, hospitals closed and threats had been made to cut off power and water.
The evacuations are said to affect Enerhodar, near Ukraine’s largest power plant – with the UN’s nuclear watchdog warning of a possible ‘severe nuclear accident’.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned the situation is ‘becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous.’
The news comes as Ukraine gears up for a spring counter-offensive, breaking the winter deadlock with a push into occupied regions in the south and east.
Image shared by Fedorov on Telegram shows queues apparently leading out of the region
Evacuees from Zaporizhzhia region walk on a platform after arriving by evacuation train at the railway station of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, on 20 April, 2023
Truck drivers queue on over ten kilometers at the Rava-Ruska border checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Polish border, on 18 April, 2023
Writing earlier this morning, Mr Fedorov said that ‘Under the guise of a contrived ‘evacuation’, the occupiers are preparing real provocations.
‘The humanitarian catastrophe caused by the sick fantasy of the Rashists [‘Russian fascists’] is no less real.’
Ivan Fedorov was made mayor of Melitopol in 2020. He was captured by Russian forces early into the invasion. President Zelensky has alleged he was tortured
He added later that ‘the occupiers promise the residents of the front-line territories golden mountains – comfortable accommodation at the captured recreation centres of Kyrylivka and Berdyansk.’
MailOnline was unable to verify the evacuation of Ukrainian refugees to the seaside beach-facing settlements – though eyewitnesses have echoed the reports.
LB.ua reported Saturday that locals were hiding their children as Russian occupants tried to evacuate them, in some cases without their parents, to recreation centres in Kyrylivka and Berdyansk.
The independent Ukrainian outlet said law enforcement agencies had confirmed the claims.
Mr Fedorov added: ‘In fact, only [some] of the evacuees are brought to the coast – they are settled among the collaborators and the military. Others are taken to continental Russia.’
He said that Ukrainians evacuated from Kherson last year had found themselves later unable to return to Ukraine.
Russian state media confirmed the evacuation of the 18 occupied regions on Friday.
Russia confirmed the evacuation of 18 regions in the occupied part of Ukraine on Friday
A serviceman with a Russian flag on his uniform stands guard near the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on 4 August, 2022
A picture taken during a visit by Grossi to Enerhodar organised by the Russian military shows the spent nuclear fuel storage site at the power plant, 29 March 2023
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned clashes around the Zaporizhzhia power plant in the city of Enerhodar threatens catastrophe.
READ MORE: The Ukraine counter-offensive: How, where and when Zelensky’s forces will hit the Russians in long-awaited Spring assault, according to military generals
Mr Grossi said: ‘I’m extremely concerned about the very real nuclear safety and security risks facing the plant.
‘We must act now to prevent the threat of a severe nuclear accident and its associated consequences for the population and the environment.’
For months, both sides fought tirelessly around Europe’s largest power station, which remained staffed by Ukrainian employees under Russian control until September.
The plant at Zaporizhzhia is one of the ten biggest in the world and was responsible for nearly half the nuclear output of Ukraine’s four reactors.
Ukrainian forces had little luck trying to recover the plant after the initial invasion, with rockets from both sides coming dangerously close to hitting the station.
Ukraine has warned since that damage to the structure risks a ‘Chernobyl-style’ catastrophe.
In September, the IAEA were able to inspect the integrity of the plant.
Both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of trying to sabotage the IAEA mission.
Mr Grossi, who has continued to visit the site for Russian-organised inspections, has said the ‘plant and physical integrity of the plant’ had been ‘violated several times’.
In April, it was reported that dissenting plant workers – who refused to keep the plant active for Russian forces – had been the victims of torture during the occupation.
Ukrainian President Zelensky last week called for Putin to be tried in the Hague for ‘criminal acts’.
Russia anticipates a counteroffensive from Ukraine this spring as it looks to reclaim territories
A view shows the site of a car bomb explosion outside a building housing a local TV station in Melitopol on October 25, 2022
Ukraine is expected to launch a counteroffensive this spring to break to winter stalemate.
In April, Pentagon leaks revealed American officials doubted the ability of Ukraine to wage an effective assault.
In recent days, Russian confidence has looked more exposed as Wagner Group threatens to withdraw from the contested city of Bakhmut in the east.
Russia has said it is ready to replace Wagner Group forces with Akhmat special forces from Chechnya in recent days – though experts warn the effectiveness is likely overstated.
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