A threat of nuclear disaster in Europe is nearing as Russian attacks put Europe’s largest nuclear power plant ablaze.
This could result in the leakage of hazardous radiations, which could ultimately put thousands of lives at risk.
Europe’s Largest Nuclear Plant Under Fire
According to the spokesman of the Zaporizhzhia plant, Andriy Tuz, one of the six reactors of the plant caught fire. Although the reactor is undergoing renovation, the nuclear fuel inside it poses a danger to the region.
A camera mounted on the Zaporizhzhia plant showed a live-streamed video in which an armored vehicle entered the parking lot of the nuclear facility. This was followed by a series of explosions, which resulted in a lot of smoke all around.
Tuz noted the situation is worsening because firefighters are not able to go near the flames, due to the continuous firing from Russians.
#BREAKING #CBS Reports that there is a nuclear fire inside the nuclear plant and firefighters can't get to the flames due to the fighting between #Ukraine's forces and #Russia's forces. https://t.co/qVTFbVDxJ2
— MrRobloxian (@Conquerors1011) March 4, 2022
Thus, Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba requested Russian forces to stop firing so unimaginable danger could be averted.
A Ukrainian government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Associated Press the radiation levels in nearby areas are now higher after the disaster, which signifies these radiations are leaking.
The facility generates 25 percent of Ukraine’s power
AP News reported the fear of another Chernobyl disaster has renewed now, as Russia has started its assault on critical state facilities.
In 1986, the Chernobyl disaster killed 31 people in what is known as one of the deadliest nuclear power plant disasters in history.
This assault came just a day after the United Nations atomic watchdog agency warned the pervasive fighting could damage Ukraine’s atomic reactors.
Ahead of the accident, the Ukrainian state atomic energy raised alarms that Russian forces were moving toward the nuclear plant. After some time, rocket fire was heard in the vicinity late Thursday.
A nuclear energy company, Energoatom, which gained control of all nuclear plants just recently, was also dismayed over the disaster.
It noted armed men equipped with Kalashnikovs entered the city; they are trying to break doors and enter civilian facilities, which is a dangerous precedent.
On March 2, Ukraine’s energy minister requested the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) to declare a no-fly zone above Ukraine’s nuclear facilities so a catastrophe could be avoided.
While Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also asked the western nations to declare a “no-fly zone” over the nuclear plants of the country to avoid any disaster, the western world rejected the plea.
According to the US and NATO, doing so would be perceived as NATO’s direct intervention in the war.
Couldn't NATO set a red line for everybody's sake, including the Russian people's sake?
e.g. If Russia keeps firing at nuclear fire plants in Ukraine, we will establish a "no-fly zone". https://t.co/8b1h8AXODl
— Jacek Debiec (@DebiecJacek) March 4, 2022
The latest round of fighting over nuclear facilities came at a time when both sides reached an agreement to create humanitarian corridors to help civilians evacuate warring zones and deliver humanitarian aid to the troubled people.
