Ian Patrick, FISM News
Renewed shelling of Europe’s biggest nuclear plant yesterday has increased concerns that the war could have long-lasting effects if an errant strike were to destroy a nuclear reactor.
The fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has piqued the interest of Western nations, who fear a nuclear meltdown if attacks in the immediate area do not cease. The United Nations held an emergency meeting of its Security Council on Thursday and urged that the area be designated a demilitarized zone to avert a catastrophe.
The U.S. alongside other nations condemned the attacks and backed the U.N.’s recommendations.
“Fighting near a nuclear plant is dangerous and irresponsible – and we continue to call on Russia to cease all military operations at or near Ukrainian nuclear facilities and return full control to Ukraine, and support Ukrainian calls for a demilitarized zone around the nuclear power plant,” a U.S. spokesperson said.
While the plant was designed to avert a disaster even if under attack, what is of main concern is the limited ability for a quick international response if a crisis were to arise.
In what has become typical fashion, both sides have blamed the other for five shells that hit the plant yesterday including at least one that struck near a nuclear reactor.
Russia claims that Ukraine is recklessly firing at the plant, while Ukraine says Russia is attacking the plant themselves while simultaneously using it as a shield to attack the nearby towns.
Russia seized the facility in March and stationed troops in the immediate area, though it kept Ukraine workers on to keep the plant running. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has previously raised concerns that the workers are being forced to work under tiring and stressful conditions.
Kyiv has indicated that it plans to recapture Zaporizhzhia as well as the neighboring provinces of Kherson.
Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for Ukraine‘s southern military command, told Ukrainian national television that their forces “do not damage the infrastructure [of the plant], do not strike where there may be a danger on a global scale. We understand that the invaders are hiding behind such a shield because it is not possible to strike there.”
In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded that the plant be relinquished to Ukraine. He said that nuclear security will be guaranteed only with “a full withdrawal of the Russians.”
The Kremlin has given no indication that it would agree to a demilitarized zone or that it would give up control of the facility.
Russia confirms prisoner swap discussions
Russian News Agency TASS confirmed on Thursday that Russian officials are speaking with United States officials regarding a possible prisoner swap for WNBA star Britney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan.
Speaking at a briefing on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Ivan Nechayev said “corresponding competent authorities have been instructed to negotiate the issue. Competent agencies are in talks.”
Referring to the United States, he said that the Russians “recommend abandoning futile attempts to put pressure on us” and instead called the U.S. “to concentrate on practical work along the available channels. There is no other way.”
“We proceed from the fact that the negotiations should take the interests of both sides into account,” Nechayev said.
The United States had initially proposed exchanging Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout, but it appears that Russia is seeking more in the deal. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson predicted on August 7 that the deal would likely be a “two-for-two” trade.
Russia had previously tried to add convicted murderer Vadim Krasikov, imprisoned in Germany, to the proposed swap, but U.S. officials publicly rejected the idea.
Wheelan told ABC’s “This Week” that he was confident that Griner would be free, but stated that he believes “it’ll be two-for-two, involving Paul Whelan.”
McDonald’s to reopen some restaurants in Ukraine
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine is now nearing the 6-month mark, McDonald’s is hoping to bring some sense of normalcy back to Ukraine.
The international fast-food chain recently announced that it was going to be reopening some of its restaurants in certain parts of the war-torn country to help “support the local economy and the Ukrainian people.”
In a message from its corporate headquarters, McDonald’s says that some of its employees “have expressed a strong desire to return to work and see our restaurants in Ukraine reopen, where it is safe and responsible to do so.” McDonald’s paused its restaurant operations in the nation on February 24, the day of Russia’s invasion.
McDonald’s then says that they will begin a “phased reopening” of its restaurants in certain areas.
After extensive consultation and discussion with Ukrainian officials, suppliers, and security specialists, and in consideration of our employees’ request to return to work, we have decided to institute a phased plan to reopen some restaurants in Kyiv and western Ukraine, where other businesses have safely reopened. Over the next few months, we will begin working with suppliers to get product to restaurants, making the physical properties ready to serve customers, bringing restaurant teams and employees back on site, and implementing enhanced procedures and protocols to support the safety of our people and customers.