The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Battle By Richard Miller (London)
If the mainstream reports are to be trusted, and in a war, who knows what is true, a fierce battle took place between Ukrainian civilians and Russian soldiers over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which took shelling and one of the six reactors was set on fire. It was not in use, so everyone lucked out. The plant is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, so the threat of nuclear danger was great. For a time, fire fighters could not put out the fire as Russians were shooting at them. Now that the Russians control the plant, apparently the fire is out.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of “nuclear terror” and threatening to repeat the Chernobyl disaster, which is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history. “You know the word 'Chernobyl,'” he said in a video.
“No country other than Russia has ever fired on nuclear power units. This is the first time in our history. In the history of mankind. The terrorist state now resorted to nuclear terror,” he said.
This is war, and it is usual for both sides to lie. But, assuming that the attack did occur as depicted by the mainstream media, it seems to almost embody a death wish to fool around with things that go bang, around nuclear power plants.
“Europe's largest nuclear plant was on fire in the early hours of Friday morning after coming under attack by Russian troops.
Andriy Tuz, a spokesperson for the Zaporizhzhia plant, 350 miles south of Kyiv, said in a video posted on Telegram that one of the six reactors was on fire, but the reactor was not in use.
'There is a real threat of nuclear danger in the biggest atomic energy station in Europe,' he said.
He told Ukrainian television that shells were falling directly on the Zaporizhzhia plant, but the reactor on fire was under renovation and not operating, AP reported. He said there is nuclear fuel inside, however.
Firefighters cannot get near the fire because they are being shot at, Tuz said.
A live feed from the station showed a line of military vehicles firing at buildings at the nuclear plant, causing flames to break out at the site - sparking fears of a radiation disaster in the nation currently under invasion by Russian forces.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said, around an hour before daybreak in Ukraine on Friday, that the country's nuclear officials said the fire has not affected 'essential' equipment.
The IAEA said plant personnel were 'taking mitigatory actions'.
In response to the attack, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of 'nuclear terror' while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will seek an emergency UN Security Council meeting in the coming hours, a Downing Street spokeswoman said. 'The UK would raise this issue immediately with Russia,' they added.
Johnson tweeted: 'I've just spoken to President Zelensky about the gravely concerning situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.
'Russia must immediately cease its attack on the power station and allow unfettered access for emergency services to the plant.'
As the chaotic scenes unfolded, a Kyiv official told The Associated Press elevated levels of radiation had been detected near the site of the plant. A plant spokesman later said they remained at normal levels, and Ukraine's 24 TV channel quoted the plant's director as saying that 'radiation security' had been secured.
The International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday night said they were deeply concerned - but emphasized that no increase in radiation levels had been reported.
'#Ukraine regulator tells IAEA there has been no change reported in #radiation levels at the #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant site,' they tweeted.
The Ukrainian atomic energy ministry said that one of the six generating units at the plant had been struck by Russian fire. Zaporizhzhia has six nuclear reactors and produces almost a quarter of Ukraine's power.
Officials initially reported Russian troops were blocking emergency services from reaching the blaze in a unit housing radioactive material, but local media later said firefighters were now working to extinguish it.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said there was 'firing from all sides' at the plant.
'Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe,' he wrote on Twitter.
'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!'
Kuleba was referring to the 1986 disaster in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the north of the country, when the Ukraine was in the Soviet Union.
But after several hours of uncertainty, Ukrainian authorities said the site had been secured.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of 'nuclear terror' and wanting to repeat the Chernobyl disaster - considered the worst nuclear disaster in history.
'You know the word 'Chernobyl,' he said in a video posted on Friday morning, calling on Russia to stop its attack.
'No country other than Russia has ever fired on nuclear power units. This is the first time in our history. In the history of mankind. The terrorist state now resorted to nuclear terror,' he said in the video message.
A senior US official said President Joe Biden had spoken with his Ukrainian counterpart about the attack, while a Downing Street spokeswoman said Johnson had also spoken to Zelensky.
The spokeswoman called the situation 'gravely concerning', adding: 'Both leaders agreed that Russia must immediately cease its attack on the power station and allow unfettered access for emergency services to the plant.
'The Prime Minister said the reckless actions of President Putin could now directly threaten the safety of all of Europe. He said the UK would do everything it could to ensure the situation did not deteriorate further.
'The Prime Minister said he would be seeking an emergency UN Security Council meeting in the coming hours, and that the UK would raise this issue immediately with Russia and close partners.
'Both leaders agreed a ceasefire was crucial.'
The live feed from the plant at one point appeared to show the flashing lights of emergency vehicles arriving to the scene, but their path was blocked by tanks stationed along the road leading up to the reactors.
There has been fierce fighting between local forces and Russian troops as they battled for the key energy producing region, the mayor - Dmytro Orlov - said in an online post reporting the fire, adding that there had been casualties without giving details.
'As a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire,' Orlov said, citing what he called a threat to world security.”
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