BREAKING: Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant on Fire and Under Attack From Russians

UPDATE [9:51 p.m. EST, March 3, 2022]: According to a breaking update from AFP,

Ukrainian authorities say safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is now secured, after a fire broke out when the station came under fire from invading Russian forces.

“The director of the plant said that the nuclear safety is now guaranteed”: Oleksandr Starukh

#BREAKING Ukrainian authorities say safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is now secured, after a fire broke out when the station came under fire from invading Russian forces.

"The director of the plant said that the nuclear safety is now guaranteed": Oleksandr Starukh pic.twitter.com/J8bk142GLY

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 4, 2022

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There are a lot of problematic issues that can spin out of control with the war in Ukraine now, most notably that it could spread to involve other countries. We saw the “oopsie” of the Belarus leader standing in front of an attack map, indicating the Russians might want to invade Moldova. The other problem would be if something is done which would invoke NATO protections, which is why the U.S. is not sending in troops or setting up a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine, although they are providing weapons.

But Russia put another one in play on Thursday, according to a breaking report out of Ukraine: the possibility of a nuclear disaster.

The Russians have attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest such plant in Ukraine. It was on fire after the attack, according to the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar, Dmytro Orlov. Ukrainian authorities have said that the Russians have been trying to seize the plant and had tanks in the town.

From Reuters:

“As a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire,” Orlov said on his Telegram channel, citing what he called a threat to world security. He did not give details.

While Reuters said they couldn’t verify it, there were multiple reports of a fire at the plant and a video from Nexta media claiming to show the attack. The fire at the moment appears to be in an administrative building, according to reports.

#BREAKING: CCTV footage shows the moment mortar shells fired by #RussianArmy hit the #Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest Nuclear Power Station of #Europe which is in #Energodar/#Enerhodar. #RussianArmy is trying to capture it & cut the electricity power in east & central #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/UHCFJqIi40

— Babak Taghvaee – Μπάπακ Τακβαίε – بابک تقوایی (@BabakTaghvaee) March 4, 2022

Before that, the #RussianArmy marked position of the #UkrainianArmy troops guarding the NPP by firing a flare over their position. Seconds later, they started shelling that position. pic.twitter.com/sCgrtCJYig

— Babak Taghvaee – Μπάπακ Τακβαίε – بابک تقوایی (@BabakTaghvaee) March 4, 2022

❗️❗️Judging by the video from the scene, an administrative building is on fire at the #Zaporizhzhia NPP as a result of shelling. However, the reactors are very close to the shelling site. The shelling continues. pic.twitter.com/CCZiKgclIw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 4, 2022

That’s more than a little problematic.

#Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in #Ukraine has 6 reactors, is the largest one in all of Europe, and the 9th largest on earth #Russia is currently attacking it with mortars and RPGs

Portions of the plan are currently on fire

Russians firing on the Firefighters too

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 4, 2022

Ukraine’s foreign minister has called on the Russians to stop the attack.

UKRAINE FM: “Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl!“

➡️ https://t.co/F48Zi1EPng pic.twitter.com/xC7aSfcWRm

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 4, 2022

Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 4, 2022

“Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broken out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!” the foreign minister wrote.