The expert predicted the catastrophic consequences of a possible Israeli attack on the Busherskaya NPP

Possible Israeli attacks on the Iranian Busherskaya nuclear power plant could lead to catastrophic consequences comparable to Chernobyl. This was stated by Vladimir Demidov, an independent expert on the resources and energy market, in an interview with Izvestia on June 17.

"The consequences can be unpredictable. If there is a direct hit, then, of course, the NPP, the NPP safety system is quite reliable, and in certain situations they can withstand a direct hit by projectiles, but you need to understand that a direct clash can disrupt part of the systems responsible for cooling," the source said.

Demidov also stressed that the cooling systems are one of the most vulnerable parts of the nuclear power plant. According to him, their damage can lead to situations similar to those that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and Fukushima-1.

In addition, Igor Yushkov, an expert at the Financial University and a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund, added that Israeli strikes could be aimed not only at the power plant itself, but also at related infrastructure such as power lines.

"Israel can strike not only at the nuclear power plant itself, but at some related infrastructure. That's probably what we're talking about first of all, because a nuclear power plant, although it generates electricity itself, also consumes electricity. That is, it needs its own electricity supply in order for the cooling system to work first of all," the expert explained.

He drew attention to the importance of stable operation of nuclear power plants at the nominal capacity level. In case of disconnection of large electricity consumers, for example, due to military operations, it is necessary, according to Yushkov, to avoid a sharp decrease in output. This can lead to abnormal operation of the station and potential emergencies.

He also noted that if it is necessary to shut down the nuclear power plant to prevent an accident, the cooling process may take several months, which will create additional risks for the region.

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At the same time, prolonging the fighting increases Tehran's chances, experts say.

On the eve of June 16, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned of the serious risks associated with Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. According to the diplomat, attacks on nuclear infrastructure facilities are of serious concern to the international community.