Possible nuclear accident in Ukraine: "Hazard analysis" shows the danger for Germany

Created: 09/27/2022 05:03

By: Nadja Austel

In the Ukraine war, a nuclear catastrophe represents a real danger. The federal government is dealing with the risk of a nuclear accident.

Berlin – Since the Russian occupation of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia at the beginning of March, reports of projectiles falling and fires breaking out on the site have fueled fears of malfunctions and safety risks.

A nuclear accident would have far-reaching consequences, and not just for Ukraine and its immediate neighbors.

Since the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl in 1986, it has been widely known that radioactive clouds can transport radiation over long distances.

In this respect, it is not surprising that the federal government is addressing the risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine at the highest level.

Nuclear accident caused by the Ukraine war: Secret services and the Chancellery discuss the dangers

According to a report by

, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection presented a "hazard analysis" as classified information to an advisory committee of the Chancellery and the heads of the intelligence services at a meeting in early September.

The maps that were presented would have shown the potential spread of possible nuclear clouds from Ukraine. 

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, in the case of two affected nuclear power plants, the radioactive clouds shown stretched

across the entire north-east of Germany to Scotland.

Accordingly, several possible scenarios were discussed confidentially, but at this time none that represented the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant as a source of danger.

Nuclear disaster: radioactive clouds could be in Germany in 48 hours

, documents from the Federal Office from just one day after this meeting in the Chancellery show

that the effects of an accident in Zaporizhia could reach Germany within a very short time: If there was an accident there, the clouds could therefore within 48 hours move across Eastern Europe.

With regionally typical weather, this applies to about 60 of 365 days a year.

According to the report, the internal documents of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection also show that in view of the situation in the Ukraine war, communication with the Chancellery also involves the Federal Republic's emergency system, which was introduced after the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl.

The international security situation thus appears to remain critical. 

Unfortunately, in 20 years of Putin's destabilization campaigns, the BND and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution all too often seemed stupid.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

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Nuclear Danger from Nuclear Power Plants in Ukraine: "Real Negotiations" with Russia

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi recently called for talks with Ukrainian and Russian authorities.

His authority's report on the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant had made it clear that the situation on the ground was "unsustainable".

A safety zone around the nuclear power plant is therefore absolutely necessary. 

The IAEA has now announced that "real negotiations" have started with Russia and Ukraine to establish a safe zone for the disputed nuclear power plant.

On the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York, Grossi met both Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Grossi announced this to journalists in New York on Wednesday (September 21): "The wheels are in motion."

War in Ukraine: Zaporizhia nuclear plant reveals ignorance about radiation protection

The situation in Zaporizhia has also made the German population more aware of the danger of radioactive radiation.

According to a study commissioned by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, only about a fifth of people know how to behave in the event of a nuclear catastrophe – although interest in information has grown.

Almost half of the population trusts that the state will protect them in the event of an accident at a nuclear power plant.

However, 63 percent of those surveyed were very worried about the risks of a nuclear disaster.

For the representative study "What does Germany think about radiation" commissioned by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 2000 people were interviewed by telephone in April and May of this year.

It was not only about radioactive radiation, but also about the possible effects of mobile phone radiation, the risks from UV radiation and radon.

From the results, the authorities derive how and where they can improve their information and recommendations for action for the population.

(Nadia Austel)