Nuclear disaster narrowly averted: Ukraine and Europe ‘one step away’ from radiation crisis

A continental disaster could have struck Thursday 25 August as Zaporizhzhia – Europe’s biggest nuclear plant – was cut off in the midst of continued strife between Ukraine and Russia.

Luckily, back-up generators kicked in and staff were prepared to fix the issue, preventing a widespread radiation accident.

A potentially nuclear reaction

According to BBC, power lines that connect Zaporizhzhia to the national grid had been damaged by fire, causing a blackout at the plant. President Zelenskycommented:

If the diesel generators hadn't turned on, if the automation and our staff of the plant had not reacted after the blackout, then we would already be forced to overcome the consequences of the radiation accident.

Work is currently being done to reconnect the fire-damaged reactors – responsible for supplying a fifth of Ukraine’s total electricity – to the national grid. However, the nuclear complex remains a site of conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated:

Almost every day there is a new incident at or near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. We can't afford to lose any more time.

Who’s responsible?

Both Ukraineand Russiablame each other for the continued damage to the nuclear complex. Although it remains under Ukrainian operation, Russia’s military infiltrated the plant earlier this year.

Zelensky claims the damage is the result of nearby Russian shelling, saying Ukraine and Europe are ‘one step away’ from a radiation crisis. However, Russian-appointed governor, Yevgeny Balitsky, argues that the Ukrainian military is responsible for the strikes.

The close call yesterday at Zaporizhzhia accompanies recent allegations from Kyiv, which claim that Moscow wants to connect the nuclear plant to Russia’s own power grid. At the same time as the almost-accident, other Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine were also disconnected from power.

The Kremlinhas agreed to an inspection of the plant by UN officials, reports BBC.

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