Six Rosgvardia commanders have been sentenced in absentia to 12 years’ imprisonment for shelling the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station
This was announced by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravchenko.
Two major-generals and four commanders of Rosgvardia battalion tactical groups were found guilty of violating the laws and customs of war. All were sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.
The Prosecutor General recalled that the attack on Europe’s largest nuclear power station took place on the night of 4 March 2022. Under cover of armoured vehicles and tanks, the occupiers shelled the station’s grounds for several hours.
In particular, fire was directed towards the nuclear reactors and the spent nuclear fuel storage facility. As a result of the shelling, a fire broke out on the plant’s premises, and critical networks and communications were damaged.
Furthermore, the occupiers trapped the plant’s staff at their workstations and prevented emergency services from extinguishing the fire.
“Experts have confirmed that the occupiers’ actions could have led to the destruction of the reactors’ protective barriers and a large-scale release of radioactive substances. The consequences of such a scenario could have affected not only Ukraine but also other European countries,” the statement reads.
According to Kravchenko, the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station was one of the most dangerous incidents of the war with Russia. He emphasised that anyone who ordered the strikes or posed a threat to nuclear safety will certainly be brought to justice, and this is a matter of principle.
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