In Ukraine, the long-running Russian invasion has turned ever more deadly in recent weeks, as shelling in the eastern-central region of the country threatens to create a humanitarian disaster the likes of which the world has never seen before
That’s because, as the Kremlin’s troops continue their ridiculous and unforgivable behavior, there are now fears that errant munitions might strike and disable Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
Ukraine’s Minister of Energy warned Monday that the “world is once again on the brink of nuclear disaster” after heavy shelling brought down Europe’s largest nuclear plant’s last transmission line.
In a written message shared on Facebook on Monday, Ukrainian Energy Secretary German Galushchenko said that the majority of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission has left the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as the station “is depleted again.”
“The last line connecting it with the energy system of Ukraine — LEP 330 kW ZATES — Ferosplavna – separated due to the fire that occurred as a result of shelling,” Galushchenko wrote. “Any repair of the lines are impossible now— there are combat operations around the station.”
“The world is once again on the brink of nuclear disaster,” he added. “De-occupying the UPP and creating a demilitarized zone around it is the only way to ensure nuclear security.”
If the plant were to go offline, the resulting meltdown could affect more than a dozen nations, with radioactive dust traveling hundreds of miles through the European mainland.
