By Russia targets Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in latest attack
In their latest attacks Russia has targeted the Zaporizhzhia power plant in southeast Ukraine, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
Russian forces shelled the plant last night as their invasion of Ukraine continues, causing a large fire to break out in an administrative building.
Ukraine’s regulator told the IAEA there has been no change reported in radiation levels at the plant site.
Zaporizhzhia contributes about one-quarter of Ukraine’s power and is the largest in Europe.
Ukraine’s Emergency Services managed to extinguish the fire, which broke out at a building outside the plant’s perimeter, but authorities say that Russian troops have seized the plant.
Thankfully no one was hurt in the attack and the reactor sites were not affected by the fire.
Prime Minister Boris Jonson said Russia’s “reckless” attack could “directly threaten the safety of all of Europe”.
US President Joe Biden urged Moscow to stop its military activities around the site, while Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the “horrific attacks” from Russia “must cease immediately”.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky says the Russian attack on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant could have caused destruction equal to “six Chernobyls”.
He began a televised address with: “People of Ukraine! We survived the night that could have stopped the course of history – history of Ukraine, history of Europe.”
He said Russia knew what it was doing when it aimed shells directly at the station and called it an act of “terror on an unheard-of level”.
Addressing Russian people he says: “How is this even possible? Didn’t we fight the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe together in 1986?”
He urges them to “take to the streets and tell your government that you want to live”.
Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog the IAEA, offered to go to Chernobyl and negotiate with Ukraine and Russia about Ukraine’s nuclear sites.
He stated that both sides of the conflict are considering this offer.
