Pro-Russian rebels will hold Ukraine referendum, defy Putin
NATO HQ. Brussels,
NATO experts have visited Ukraine, in order to advise the government on improving the safety of nuclear power plants, gas pipelines and other critical infrastructure amid growing violence and fears of conflict with Russia, officials said on Wednesday May 7th.
Ukrainian Ambassador to NATO, Igor Dolhov, said that NATO civilian experts had visited Ukraine last month, to assess critical infrastructure such as nuclear plants, pumping stations for gas pipelines and hydro-electric plants.
"In any country, in any situation, there are plans and additional measures to protect infrastructure, including in Ukraine. So the purpose was to evaluate the performance of measures which are being implemented in Ukraine," Dolhov told Reuters.
Another objective was to make sure the installations would be safe in the event of an emergency, he said.
Ukraine has 15 nuclear power reactors in operation at four plants.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is situated on Dnieper river, far closer to regions with heavy fighting than any other plant in Ukraine. This nuclear plant is largest in Europe. It was built in 1985 (last reactor 1989) and was the last nuclear construction in the former Soviet Union.
The NATO team, sent in response to a request from the Ukrainian government, later delivered a confidential report with recommendations to Ukrainian authorities, who were evaluating it, the official said.
Ukraine is a major transit route for Russian gas to the European Union.
Ukraine, scene of the world's worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl in 1986, has 15 nuclear power reactors in operation, accounting for nearly 44 percent of its electricity production in 2013, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Destabilisation
Asked if the study was carried out because of Kyiv's fears of Russian intervention in Ukraine, Dolhov said one reason was "possible destabilisation" in an area where strategic infrastructure was located.
Ukraine told the UN atomic watchdog in March it was reinforcing the protection of its nuclear power plants because of "a grave threat to the security" of the country posed by the Russian military.
A rebellion in the east has raised the prospect that Ukraine, a country of with nearly 45 million people, the size of France, could be carved up, or even descend into civil war.
Ukraine is not a member of NATO, and the alliance has said it will not get involved militarily in Ukraine. But Ukraine and NATO have increased cooperation, and Ukraine has asked NATO members for non-lethal equipment such as uniforms.
Dolhov said in a telephone interview that he expected the first shipments of this non-lethal aid to be delivered in coming days.
Ukraine's Ambassador to NATO Igor Dolhov
Dolhov also said Ukrainian authorities had information that Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to attend a parade in the Crimean port of Sebastopol on 9 May, marking the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, something Dolhov said would be a provocation and a cynical move.
He said the shooting down by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine of two Ukrainian helicopters, using what the country's Defence Ministry said were shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, was evidence of Russian involvement.
"For me, it is clear. Otherwise it is difficult to explain how so-called protesters could get such kind of weapons. It's not from the shop," he said.
"I am sure that agents of special services of Russia are present on the territory of Ukraine," he added.
TIMELINE:
- 9 May: Victory Day celebrations in Russia and in former Soviet space;
- 11 May: Possible referendum in the so-called "Peoples' Republic of Donetsk";
- 12 May: EU ministers to decide on new sanctions;
- 25 May: Presidential elections in Ukraine;
- 4-5 June: G7 meeting in Brussels;
- 6 June: V-Day anniversary in Normandy, Russian President expected to attend.
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