CND Press Roundup Thursday 24th Feb 2022
Posted: 24th February 2022
Ukraine Conflict
All outlets have been leading with the overnight invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces after weeks of growing tensions. The move has been roundly condemned by Western leaders with further sanctions expected later today.
The Telegraph reports on research warning of a radioactive disaster due to abandoned mines in eastern Ukraine that filling up with water at “an alarming” rate. Recent satellite images “have raised concerns about water contaminated with heavy metals or radioactive material spilling into rivers and the wider environment.”
The Bulletin for Atomic Scientists has an interesting read on why the West should not look away from Ukraine at this moment and gives an interesting history of the denuclearization of Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, while leaving Russia as the only post-Soviet successor state. The Week magazine also has a piece on the nuclear stockpile that “Ukraine once gave up.”
I News speaks to a Ukrainian safety expert on the likelihood of the threat of a nuclear incident at Ukrainian nuclear power facilities. Dmytro Gumenyuk, head of safety analysis at the State Scientific and Technical Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, said while a direct military attack by Russia on such facilities was unlikely, the lack of high-precision weapons currently found in the occupied regions of eastern Ukraine could hit a facility by accident. Ukraine has 15 nuclear reactors in four power plants, providing the country with over half of its electricity supply.
Another piece on Wion web discusses the Russian military action based on UK health Minister Sajid Javid’s suggestion that the invasion has created the next Cuban missile crisis. The piece gives a rundown of the Cuban missile crisis and asks if history repeats itself, why don’t we ever learn from it?
Iran Nuclear deal
The Washington Post writes on the current efforts in Geneva to agree to a renewed Iran nuclear deal as intensive talks draw to a close. Iran’s chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, has returned to Iran while US and other delegates wait in Geneva for his possible return, which could be as soon as Friday. Representatives from the EU and Russia indicated that the talks were soon to reach the finish line.
Euronews held an interview with Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who urged western leaders to seize the opportunity to secure a deal. Abdollahian said Iran had shown flexibility on its side but warned some red lines would not be crossed. “We’re saying very clearly to them that ‘now it is your turn’. It is time to see initiatives and flexibility from the western side,” he added.
And Reuters has a column on the potential for a nuclear deal and the lifting of sanctions on Iran at a time when oil prices are at their highest in a decade. “If sanctions are eased, the gradual addition of up to 1.3 million b/d of extra oil over the remainder of 2022 and into 2023 could help stabilise global inventories and prevent a further ramp up in prices.”
Chernobyl Theatre Show
A theatre show is coming to Swansea, Wales which aims to transport viewers back to the 1986 disaster with an immersive experience. Histoire Productions latest production entitled ‘Chernobyl – Where were you in 1986?’, will run for two nights on Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25.
Fusion energy
One to watch out for. The Conversation has a piece on the recent nuclear fusion experiment at the the Joint European Torus (JET) facility, adding that the technology is “inching closer to reality.”
Pádraig McCarrick
Press and Communications Officer
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament