Russia: Attacks On Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant Can Trigger Big Disasters Like The Chernobyl Tragedy

JAKARTA - Russia warned that an attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) in Iran could trigger major disasters such as the Chernobyl tragedy in 1986.

This was revealed by Alexey Likhachev, head of Russia's atomic energy agency, Rosatom, on Thursday (19/6), on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the RIA news agency reported.

"If the first unit of PLTN Bushehr which is still operating is attacked, it will be a disaster comparable to Chernobyl," said Likhachev as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, June 20.

He referred to the fourth reactor explosion at the Chernobyl PLTN in Ukraine (at that time part of the Soviet Union) which until now is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history.

Likhachev insists such an attack would "exceed the boundaries between good and evil."

He said Rosatom was continuing to monitor the situation in Bushehr, including the safety of the Russian technicians stationed there.

To date, said Likhachev, there has been no physical damage to uranium enrichment facilities in Iran, and radiation leaks were not found after Israel attacked Iran's nuclear installation.

"As far as we are concerned about the structure of enrichment facilities such as in Natanz, the strength of the attack (Israel) has not been able to physically damage the basements," he said.

Likhachev also revealed dozens of Russian technicians on duty at the facility had been evacuated via Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"Currently, we still think it is safe to keep our staff at Bushehr ... We are ready to face all possibilities, including the rapid evacuation of all of our workers," he said.

Tensions in the Middle East have risen since last Friday, June 13, last week when Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on a number of sites in Iran, including Iran's military and nuclear sites. In retaliation, Iran launched a missile strike on Israeli territory.

Israel reported 24 people were killed and hundreds injured in Iran's retaliatory attacks, while Iran said at least 639 people were killed and more than 1,300 others injured in Israeli attacks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told international media leaders in St. Petersburg on Thursday morning that there are currently 250 Russian technicians at Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.