Subcritical Reactor Building in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Damaged

The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said a building at the Neutron Source subcritical nuclear facility in Kharkiv received significant damage as a result of shelling by Russian troops.

Damage has been observed in the heat-insulating cladding of the building, and partial shedding of cladding materials in the experimental hall of the facility.

The newly built facility is intended for the research and production of radioisotopes for medical and industrial needs.

“Personnel continue to inspect the buildings, structures and equipment of the facility to identify any damage,” the inspectorate said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

The agency fears new damage to the nuclear installation due to the constant shelling by the invader troops in the area where it is located.

“Continued shelling of the site can lead to severe radiation consequences with contamination of nearby areas,” the agency warned.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that the nuclear material in the facility is always subcritical, and the inventory of radioactive material is low, reducing the risks of radiation release.