On Thursday, Russian forces gained complete control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after heavy shelling that caused some Ukrainian officials to raise concern about a possible nuclear disaster.
Located in the southern city of Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and a critical part of Ukraine’s nuclear energy infrastructure; it accounts for half of the country’s total electricity demand.
VIDEO: Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of 'nuclear terror' after plant attack
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 4, 2022
Zelensky accuses Moscow of wanting to "repeat" the Chernobyl disaster after he says invading Russian forces shot at a nuclear power plant pic.twitter.com/2QLtHg0tyn
In a statement, Ukraine’s State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate (SNRI) confirmed that the plant has been “seized” by Russian military forces, adding that the facility’s operations continue to carry on as usual. SNRI mentioned that four of the plant’s six reactors are being cooled down, noting that there are no changes in the radiation levels. However, SNRI warned that the cooldown of nuclear fuel will result in “significant” radiation leaks and might even cause a disaster more dangerous than Chernobyl or Fukushima.
Russian shelling caused a fire at the NPP in Zaporizhya - the biggest one in Europe. This could end up in a disaster comparable to the likes of Chernobyl. We need urgent support! @NATO @POTUS #CloseTheSky #SafeAirliftUkraine #StopRussia #StopPutinNOW pic.twitter.com/nqAM70tmN0
— Dovbenko Mariia (@MariiaDovbenko) March 4, 2022
SNRI said that some people had died and others were injured during the fighting and the fire, without providing any specifics. Ukraine’s nuclear power operator, Energoatom, also confirmed this information later in a statement on Telegram.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia’s attack on Zaporizhzhia, saying, “No country besides Russia has ever fired upon an atomic power plant’s reactor. The first time, the first time in history.” He called Russia a “terrorist state” as he urged European leaders to take harsher action against Moscow before the conflict spirals into a nuclear disaster, which he said would be “the end of Europe.” All of Europe would have to evacuate,” Zelensky said.
Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 4, 2022
Prior to the complete capture of Zaporizhzhia, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi told CNN that the agency was in “constant contact” with Ukrainian officials to ensure the safety of the plant. Grossi highlighted that Russia’s attack on Ukraine is unprecedented since it is the first time in history such a large-scale military invasion was happening amidst a large number of nuclear facilities. The IAEA passed a resolution on Thursday condemning Russia’s “aggressive activity and attacks” at various nuclear facilities in Ukraine; only Russia and China voted against the resolution.
Japan’s top government spokesperson called the attack “barbaric and unacceptable,” expressing concern about a repeat of the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was one of the most dangerous nuclear disasters in recent history.
🇺🇦 Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky demands still tougher sanctions against the Russian "nuclear terrorist state" after invading forces attacked and seized the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant. #UkraineRussia pic.twitter.com/6dyS3DbFDr
— euronews (@euronews) March 4, 2022
On the first day of Russia’s invasion, it took over the historic Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine. The IAEA reported that the Russian military was subjecting Ukrainian officials working in Chernobyl to “psychological pressure and moral exhaustion.”