The European Union (EU) will send to Ukraine potassium iodide tablets used against radiation exposure in the event of a nuclear leak.
According to a statement from the EU Commission, due to developments around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the government of Ukraine on August 26 asked the EU for potassium iodide tablets in order to increase preventive measures against safety.
Even the EU, in response to this request, announced that a total of 5.5 million tablets of potassium iodide will be sent, including 5 million from the emergency situation reserves in Germany and 500 thousand from Austria.
The tablets are used to prevent thyroid absorption of ingested or inhaled radioactive iodine.
Zaporizhzhia, located in the southeast of Ukraine, is considered the largest power plant in Europe. The plant has six nuclear reactors, an electricity generation capacity of 5,700 megawatt-hours and supplies 20 percent of Ukraine’s electricity production.
Russia took control of the plant in a ground operation on March 4. Around the plant, which is currently under the control of the Russian army, air strikes are being experienced. Ukraine and Russia accuse each other over the issue of these attacks.
The EU and the US have requested that experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visit the plant and carry out inspections. Ukrainian officials announced yesterday that the experts have headed towards the plant.
Even the US administration has pointed out that Russia has gathered soldiers around Zaporizhzhia and asked not to obstruct the access of experts to the region.