Nuclear Disaster Looming As Russian War in Ukraine Rages On Near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Nuclear Disaster Looming As Russian War in Ukraine Rages On Near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

  • Europe's largest nuclear plant, Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, is under threat as military activity continues
  • United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres believes that any damage to the nuclear plant would be “suicide”
  • Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky wants the plant demilitarised and criticised Russia’s “deliberate” attacks on it

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ZAPORIZHZHIA - Disaster is looming around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine as military activity continues around the area. Despite calls for Russia to demilitarise the area, officials are convinced it would make the plant more vulnerable.

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Ukraine’s forces are practising emergency drills in the event of a nuclear disaster in Zaporizhzhia. Image: Dimitar Dilkoff
Source: Getty Images

Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s largest nuclear plant and has allegedly been under Russian control since early this year. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the BBC that any damage to the nuclear plant would be “suicide”.

He met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, 18 August. Zelensky urged the UN to ensure the plant is demilitarised and criticised Russia’s “deliberate” attacks on it.

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However, Russia has accused Ukraine of “nuclear blackmail” and escalating tensions in the area. According to Forbes, officials have warned of a possible Chernobyl-like catastrophe at the plant. Ukraine’s forces are also practising emergency drills in preparation for a disaster.

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Social media users react to the military activity:

@Jimbob59828801 said:

“Russians planning false flag operation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Only a criminal regime would use radiation to play roulette with people’s lives. Russian roulette. Russia: criminal state.”

@Devashokdev commented:

“Russia should withdraw immediately its soldiers from Zaporizhzhia.”

Ukraine, Russia accuse each other of nuclear plant strikes

In a related matter, Briefly News also reported Kyiv and Moscow have exchanged blame for fresh shelling around Europe’s largest nuclear facility, which is in Russia’s control and has come under fire repeatedly in the past week.

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The Zaporizhzhia plant in southeastern Ukraine has been occupied by Russian forces since March, and Kyiv has accused Moscow of basing hundreds of soldiers and storing arms there.

During his televised address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of nuclear “blackmail” and using the plant to “intimidate people in an extremely cynical way.”

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Source: Briefly News

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Bianca Lalbahadur avatar

Bianca Lalbahadur Bianca Lalbahadur is a current affairs journalist at Briefly News. With a knack for writing hard-hitting content, she is dedicated to being the eyes and ears of South Africans. As a young and vibrant journalist, Bianca is passionate about providing quality and factual stories that impact citizens. She graduated from the Independent Institute of Education in 2017 and has worked at several award-winning Caxton associated community newspapers.