Fire and explosion threat at Zaporizhzhia NPP investigated as ecocide and terrorist attack

The relevant statement was made by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Last night the Russian military attacked Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Enerhodar, which is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.

“The enemy shelling caused a fire and posed a threat of nuclear explosion, which might result in a global environmental disaster. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine have launched an investigation into an ecocide and terrorist attack (Part 2 Art. 28, Art. 441 and Part 2 Art. 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine),” the report states.

The international law prohibits the military or any other hostile use of environmental impact means.

According to the Geneva Conventions, the works and installations containing dangerous forces, i.e. dams, dykes and nuclear power plants, must not be attacked.

“Meanwhile, the aggressor state considers it appropriate to shell residential sectors, schools, nurseries, hospitals, and nearly every day attacks high-risk facilities,” the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine noted.

On the first day as the war started, Russian troops captured Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), and now they are illegally holding the plant’s personnel captive.

The movement of heavy vehicles within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone caused the radiation levels to increase by 15.7 times compared to the average annual level.

Russian shells also hit a radioactive waste disposal site of the Radon Association in Kyiv.

In addition, Russian invaders intentionally shelled an oil depot in the village of Kriachky, Kyiv Region, causing a fire. Oil depots were also hit by the Russian military in Okhtyrka, Sumy Region, and Chernihiv.

In each case, criminal proceedings were opened. Investigation procedures were launched to record the crimes and their effects.

Photo: The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine

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