U.N. inspection team arrives at threatened Ukraine nuclear plant in war zone
PBS NewsHourDec 24, 2022
Day 192: Russia's Gazprom Indefinitely Halts European Gas Supplies as G7 Countries Impose Price Cap on Russian Oil
Image copyright: DPA/Getty Images [via NBC News]
The Facts
Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Fri. it's indefinitely extending the halting of gas supplies through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany, citing a leak and "malfunctions" in one of the turbines, adding flows would not continue until essential maintenance work is carried out. The pipeline had been shut for three days of repairs on Wed. and was due to re-open on Saturday.
The announcement came hours after G7 countries agreed to impose a price cap on Russian oil – sparking questions as to whether Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin had a part to play in the decision of Gazprom, a state-owned company. G7 members said the price cap was intended to curtail the funds available to the Kremlin.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Experts have made it clear – the situation at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant presents the risk of another Chernobyl. Nuclear disaster has, miraculously, been avoided so far, but continuing risks the safety and effectiveness of staff to control the reactors could have catastrophic consequences.
Establishment-critical narrative
Although Zaporizhzhia's cooling systems will be relatively vulnerable due to their contact with the outside world, the worst case scenario would only cause serious damage at a local level. Both Russia and Ukraine are over stating the risk of nuclear catastrophe to galvanize domestic support for the invasion and play upon Western fears to incentivize providing military and public support respectively.