Fire at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
After Chernobyl, another nuclear facility falls to Russia: A fire broke out last night (Thursday-Friday) at the Zaporizhia power plant complex, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. In Ukraine, it was claimed that the fire broke out as a result of Russian shelling, and President Volodymyr Zalansky accused Russia of “nuclear terrorism.” “If there is an explosion, it’s the end of everyone. It’s the end of Europe,” he said in a video released in the middle of the night. It was only after hours that the fire was extinguished – and about two hours later, the Ukrainian authorities reported that the Russian army had occupied the power plant. The British Times reported that in the past week Zalansky survived three assassination attempts. Two different squads were sent to eliminate him – mercenaries from the Wagner military-private company and special Chechen forces.
Ukraine’s emergency services reported tonight that the fire broke out in a building used for training and instruction, located outside the power plant. A source in President Zalanski’s office said that radiation levels were normal – and ruled out claims that there was an increase. In Ukraine it was said that the structure was damaged in one of the reactors, but this has no effect on safety. Only hours later were Ukrainian fire services allowed to enter the compound and begin firefighting operations. Before that, Ukrainian firefighters claimed, Russian soldiers prevented them from reaching the scene and even fired in their direction. Shortly after entering the compound, firefighters were able to gain control of the fire.
The fire, as recorded on the security cameras of the power plant (Photo: AFP)It was first reported in Ukraine that the fire broke out in an inactive reactor that is under renovation. “As a result of the enemy’s continuous shelling of buildings and units at Europe’s largest power plant, the Zaporizhia nuclear facility is on fire. This is a danger to world security,” said Mayor Energuder, near the power plant.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kolba has warned on his Twitter account that if an explosion occurs at the facility – the result will be 10 times more severe than it was after the Chernobyl disaster. “The Russian army is firing from all sides. The Russians must immediately stop the fire, allow firefighters to access and create a security zone,” he added.
About an hour later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zalansky released the video in which he accused Russia of “nuclear terrorism,” as he put it. “We draw everyone’s attention to the fact that no country, except Russia, has ever fired at nuclear power plants. This is the first time in human history,” Zalansky claimed. “This terrorist country is trying to recover from nuclear terrorism. If there is an explosion – it is the end of everyone, the end of Europe. Only an urgent action by Europe can stop the Russian soldiers. Do not allow the death of Europe due to a catastrophe at a nuclear power plant.” Shortly before the video was released, the President of Ukraine spoke with US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who called for the convening of the UN Security Council and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of careless actions that endanger the security of The whole of Europe.
The fire in Zaporizhia. Shut down after hours (Photo: AFP)
Tonight’s fire has rekindled fears of damage to one of Ukraine’s 15 nuclear reactors, which could lead to another nuclear disaster, similar to the one in 1986 at a Chernobyl reactor captured by the Russian military last week. The shooting at the station came hours after the International Atomic Energy Agency’s secretary general Rafael Grossi called on both sides to refrain from fighting near the station. The two noted that radiation levels at the station had not changed, and the International Atomic Energy Agency also reported that the Ukrainian authorities had provided them with similar information.
In the city of Energuder near the power plant, where about 50,000 people live, residents have set up makeshift checkpoints in recent days, including with the help of garbage trucks, to prevent Vladimir Putin’s army from entering. Residents manned the checkpoints, waved Ukrainian flags, and vowed to arrest the Russians. The city is considered an important energy center for Ukraine, as it produces about a quarter of the country’s electricity. Last night, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported that Russian tanks had managed to enter the city anyway, and that fire had opened there. Videos came from the city showing flames and smoke billowing, with alarms rising and falling in the background. There is another nuclear power plant near Energuder, and in Ukraine it is feared that it too will fall into Russian hands.
With trucks and flags: Energoder residents are trying to block the road
In the city of Energuder. Residents set up makeshift checkpointsThe mayor of Energodor, Dmitry Orlov, said that in the battles between the Russian army and the local forces trying to fight the Russians there were casualties, but he did not elaborate on their number. Ukraine’s Atomic Energy Company has previously reported that a Russian military convoy is making its way to the nuclear power plant, with loud gunfire in the background. “A lot of young men in sports uniforms came to town armed with Kalashnikovs. They are trying to enter the apartments of local residents,” the company said in a statement.
The report of the fire that broke out at the nuclear power plant came after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke last night – praising his troops. Putin claimed that contrary to reports and claims in the West – his country’s military operation in Ukraine is progressing just before the plan and in accordance with the timetable and missions set. “We will destroy this anti-Russia created by the West,” he said, promising to compensate the wounded soldiers and the families of the killed soldiers with money.
The Russian president claimed that his army was recording successes in Ukraine, and that “acts of heroism” were being recorded there. He again hurled harsh accusations at the government in Kiev: “Ukrainian forces torture Russian prisoners of war and take thousands of foreign nationals hostage, including students. Our soldiers have created humanitarian corridors so that civilians can escape, but Ukrainian nationalists are blocking them. Ukrainian forces use civilians as human shields.”
Despite Putin’s remarks, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace insisted that the West was right in his assessments, and that in practice the Russian military was very lagging behind the original timetable set for his invasion. “Russia is accumulating not only a significant number of dead (in its ranks), but also of desertions and of people who surrender, and a significant amount of its equipment has been destroyed.” He reiterated the logistical problems encountered by Russian troops in Ukraine, including food shortages.
At the same time, last night the Ukrainian emergency services reported that at least 33 people were killed in the bombings carried out by the Russian Air Force in the Chernivtsi region in the north of the country. The announcement comes hours after the region governor said nine people had been killed in a Russian bombing raid on two schools and several private homes there. Authorities in Chernivtsi claimed that the area attacked had no military targets, only schools, kindergartens and hospitals. Rescue operations are still ongoing, and there are fears that it will turn out that the real death toll is much higher.
Documentation while traveling: The bombing of houses in Chernivtsi (Photo: Twitter)
Fire in the city of Chernivtsi, yesterday. At least 33 were killed (צילום: AFP PHOTO / State Emergency Service of Ukraine)The Russians also continued yesterday with heavy fire on the city of Mariupol, where there is a fear of a humanitarian catastrophe, and also on the city of Kharkov in the northeast of the country. As for the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, the second largest in the country, an American source said last night that he could not confirm the reports of the city falling. He noted that fighting was still going on there, although on Tuesday it was reported that Russian forces had completed its occupation and made it the first major city to fall into their hands.
In the shadow of the events in Ukraine last night, the US administration announced that the US Department of Defense had opened a “hot line” – a direct line of communication – with Russia’s Ministry of Defense to prevent “errors of judgment, military incidents and escalation” in the region.