Russian forces occupy Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in the Ukrainian city of Enerhodar.
Russian and Ukrainian forces are fighting nearby, and shelling has damaged power and communication lines to the plant, prompting fears for the plant’s safety and evoking painful memories in a country still scarred by the world’s worst nuclear accident, at Chernobyl in 1986.
In addition, Russian authorities have developed plans to disconnect the plant
from Ukraine’s power grid – in the event of damage to the plant,
according to the Russians, as a prelude to switching the plant to the
grid in Russian-occupied territory, according to the Ukrainians.
Disconnecting the plant from the grid is a risky operation.
The Conversation asked Najmedin Meshkati, a professor and nuclear safety expert at the University of Southern California, to explain the risks of warfare taking place in and around nuclear power plants.
Imperiled Ukrainian nuclear power plant has the world on edge – a safety expert explains what could go wrong: Russian forces occupy Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in the Ukrainian city of Enerhodar.
Russian and Ukrainian forces are fighting nearby, and shelling has damaged power and communication lines to the plant, prompting fears for the plant’s safety and evoking painful memories in a country still scarred by the world’s worst nuclear accident, at Chernobyl in 1986. In addition, Russian authorities have developed plans to disconnect the plant
from Ukraine’s power grid – in the event of damage to the plant,
according to the Russians, as a prelude to switching the plant to the
grid in Russian-occupied territory, according to the Ukrainians.
Disconnecting the plant from the grid is a risky operation.The Conversation asked Najmedin Meshkati, a professor and nuclear safety expert at the University of Southern California, to explain the risks of warfare taking place in and around nuclear power plants.Read More