EU send 5 million anti-radiation tablets to Ukraine
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
(BRUSSELS) - The European Union sent 5 million potassium iodide tablets to Ukraine Tuesday, as a preventative safety measure to increase the level of protection around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The EU Commission says the potassium iodide tablets would be used in limited scenarios to avoid that inhaled or swallowed radioactive iodine is absorbed by the thyroid.
In response, the European Response Coordination Centre swiftly mobilised 5.5 million potassium iodide tablets via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for Ukraine, including five million from the rescEU emergency reserves and 500,000 from Austria.
With a total financial value of over EUR 500,000, the brunt of the assistance will be delivered to Ukraine from the rescEU reserve hosted by Germany.
The EU has condemned Russia in forceful terms for using the nuclear power plant as a war theatre, calling for all military action around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to cease immediately.
"The EU is pre-emptively delivering five million potassium iodide tablets to Ukraine from the rescEU strategic reserves to offer people protection in case of exposure to high levels of radiation," said EU Commissioner Janez Lenarcic.
Thanking Austria for donating an additional 500,000 tablets to Ukraine, he said the EU would "continue to be on the lookout and stand ready to act, because preparedness saves lives."