KIEV, March 29 – Ukraine's nuclear power plants are able to withstand maximum earthquakes possible in the country, Emergencies Minister Viktor Baloha said.

"Ukrainian power stations meet all requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This is a conclusion made by experts of the agency, the European Union and Ukraine's Energoatom after numerous overall inspections. The nuclear power plants in Ukraine are projected to withstand the maximum possible earthquake [in Ukraine] of magnitude 6 on the Richter scale. Moreover, the main constructions of the plants – reactor and turbine facilities, special buildings, and reserve diesel power plants can with stand a magnitude 7 earthquake," Baloha said in an interview with the Segodnya newspaper on March 28.