Russia expressed serious concerns about the escalating risk associated with nuclear waste storage in Ukraine, highlighting the potential of roughly 12 million tons of radioactive waste contaminating the Dnieper River and the surrounding groundwater.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, described the current state of nuclear waste management in Ukraine as catastrophic.
According to a statement on the ministry’s website, the volume of nuclear waste at the Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant in Kamianske has accumulated to a worrying 42 million tons.
Zakharova noted that the facility, built during the Soviet period, is surrounded by nine open-air dumps containing low-radioactive, sand-like waste.
The Russian official emphasized the severe environmental threat posed by these wastes, citing a significant risk of radioactive material entering the Dnieper River and groundwater due to the potential erosion of a dam near the storage sites, which are only 800 meters away from the river and its tributary Konoplyanka.
Furthermore, Zakharova highlighted the issue of radioactive dust, estimating that around 14 tons of it are dispersed across the region annually, affecting farmlands.
She criticized the Kyiv government for not allocating sufficient funds for the environmental safety of the Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant’s facilities, warning that neglect could lead to an environmental catastrophe not only within the region under Kyiv’s control but also in surrounding areas.
Longstanding concerns about the deteriorating condition of the plant have reportedly been ignored by officials, raising alarms about potential environmental and health risks.
The president of France’s largest farmers’ union issued a stark warning, stating that Ukraine’s potential accession to the European Union (EU) would be “catastrophic” for agriculture in Europe.
The European Commission recently recommended the initiation of accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova to join the EU, while also granting Georgia the status of a candidate country for EU membership.
In an interview with local newspapers affiliated with the “Fensia” group, Arnou Russo, the president of the “Fensia” union, expressed his concerns, saying, “In the context of the war, it is very difficult to comment on this issue because you are immediately accused of not supporting Ukraine.
