FAKE: Ukrainian “nationalists” mined building of Institute of Physics and Technology in Kharkiv housed experimental nuclear facility with reactor

According to the information spread on the Internet since March 7, 2022, Ukrainian “nationalists” allegedly have mined a reactor at an experimental nuclear facility at the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology to hide work on nuclear developments. It is claimed that the “nationalists” are allegedly preparing a provocation by blowing up a nuclear installation to accuse russia of launching a missile strike on it. Then (on March 11), it was reported that the Institute of Physics and Technology had been disrupted to conceal works in the nuclear industry.

However, this information is not true. For the first time, the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology building housed the experimental nuclear facility was fired upon by russian armed forces from multiple rocket launchers “Grad” on March 6. And on March 10, the occupiers attacked it for the second time and, as a result, left the facility without electricity.

According to the SBU in the Kharkiv region, on March 6, 2022, russian armed groups fired the territory of the National Research Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology” using “Grad” rocket launchers.

It is noted that the National Research Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology” has a research nuclear facility “Neutron Source”, which has 37 loaded nuclear fuel cells in its core. Consequently, the destruction of a nuclear facility could lead to a large-scale environmental catastrophe.

The SBU added that criminal proceedings under Art. 441 of the Criminal code of Ukraine (ecocide) were initiated.

In addition, according to the State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation of Ukraine, on March 10, the occupiers bombed a nuclear research facility at the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology for the second time.

It is noteworthy that the russian federation spreads disinformation about the actions of “Ukrainian nationalists” after its attacks to justify its actions or shift the blame to Ukraine.