Russia launched an attack on the Yuzhno-Ukrainsk nuclear power plant last night, Ukraine’s nuclear watchdog Energoatom reported. Released images show that a powerful explosion took place on the site last night. According to the watchdog, this happened just 300 meters from the nuclear reactors.
The three reactors have remained in operation. The shock wave did damage the surrounding buildings of the nuclear power plant. Part of the complex has been shut down, as have three high-voltage power lines. At least a hundred windows have been broken, according to Energoatom.
Camera image of the explosion:
The nuclear power plant is located about 200 kilometers from the front, northwest of the city of Mykolaiv and 150 kilometers from the Moldovan border. It is the second largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine. The nuclear power plant produces 10 percent of the national electricity production and supplies about five million inhabitants with electricity.
Here is the nuclear power plant:
Energatom accuses Russia in a statement of nuclear terrorism. “This must be stopped immediately to prevent a disaster.” President Zelensky writes on Telegram that Russia is endangering the whole world: “We must stop them before it is too late”.
Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
The attack on southern Ukraine’s nuclear power plant follows months of fighting around the country’s largest nuclear power plant, in the Zaporizhzhya region. That complex was completely shut down last week and disconnected from the electricity grid. The plant is located in territory occupied by Russia and has been damaged by shelling from both sides. According to Ukraine, Russia has stored military vehicles and weapons on the site of the plant.
UN nuclear watchdog IAEA recently concluded that in Zaporizhzhya there is damage to the nuclear fuel building, the solid radioactive waste storage facility and the building with the central alarm station. The IAEA is calling for a security zone around the plant.
