A reported fire at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was likely started by the Russian military, Ukrainian officials said on Aug. 11.
Russian forces set fire to "a large number of automobile tires in cooling towers," Yevhen Yevtushenko, the head of the military administration in Nikopol, said on Aug. 11, citing sources across the river in occupied Enerhodar.
"Perhaps this is a provocation or an attempt to create panic in the settlements on the right bank of the former reservoir," he said.
According to Yevtoshenko, radiation levels at the plant are normal.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to hold Russia accountable for the provocation.
"As long as Russian terrorists retain control of the nuclear power plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal," Zelensky said in a Telegram post Aug. 11.
"We are waiting for the world's reaction, waiting for the IAEA's reaction."
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. Its position near the front line has led to heightened nuclear safety risks throughout Russia's full-scale war.
Read also: Nearly 5,000 workers evacuated from Russian-occupied nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, minister says
This makes a lot more sense. I almost said in my earlier comment that it looked like someone set a fire, because nothing inside the towers can burn very long - if at all. But I didn't say it because I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to sabotage a nuclear cooling tower. Either they busted the pipes leading into the tower to force the plant operators to shut off the flow of hot water (to be cooled) or the operators did it themselves when they saw what was going on. Either way - they better hope their backup cooling system is ok and they have no issues.
Whoever did this - Russia or Ukraine - made a really stupid error in judgement and this will bite them in the ass. If they can't keep the reactors cool because of a stunt to scare civilians, and a meltdown happens, Europe is not going to let that go.
Russian forces start fire at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Ukraine says Abbey Fenbert Sun, August 11, 2024 at 3:22 PM EDT·1 min read https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-forces-start-fire-zaporizhzhia-192259372.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmVlc3Bva2UuY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANR0Fi1t3E2s2rl0BdBi_o22i3Cp0Zc8t8vf9ubEim5rwg-fbsZqVK0Fb_O9-JZFzQ5E1NjmZSJfWWdf1xnnaBAzgzcIynSBVKjFJoM3-rZ_TnZEWzsyulYQI33cVMmN_z3BQklRXJymKkp5j4LnNWQWDJKJmOZyPrQzDzUngT-B
A reported fire at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was likely started by the Russian military, Ukrainian officials said on Aug. 11.
Russian forces set fire to "a large number of automobile tires in cooling towers," Yevhen Yevtushenko, the head of the military administration in Nikopol, said on Aug. 11, citing sources across the river in occupied Enerhodar.
"Perhaps this is a provocation or an attempt to create panic in the settlements on the right bank of the former reservoir," he said.
According to Yevtoshenko, radiation levels at the plant are normal.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to hold Russia accountable for the provocation.
"As long as Russian terrorists retain control of the nuclear power plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal," Zelensky said in a Telegram post Aug. 11.
"We are waiting for the world's reaction, waiting for the IAEA's reaction."
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. Its position near the front line has led to heightened nuclear safety risks throughout Russia's full-scale war.
Read also: Nearly 5,000 workers evacuated from Russian-occupied nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, minister says
This makes a lot more sense. I almost said in my earlier comment that it looked like someone set a fire, because nothing inside the towers can burn very long - if at all. But I didn't say it because I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to sabotage a nuclear cooling tower. Either they busted the pipes leading into the tower to force the plant operators to shut off the flow of hot water (to be cooled) or the operators did it themselves when they saw what was going on. Either way - they better hope their backup cooling system is ok and they have no issues.
Whoever did this - Russia or Ukraine - made a really stupid error in judgement and this will bite them in the ass. If they can't keep the reactors cool because of a stunt to scare civilians, and a meltdown happens, Europe is not going to let that go.