Fighting between Russia, Ukraine Causes Fire at Europe’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant. Here’s What We Know So Far

“The real threat to Ukrainian lives continues to be the violent invasion and bombing of their country,” the group said in a statement.

US President Joe Biden also urged Russia to cease its military activities in the area and allow firefighters and emergency responders to access the site.

What is the danger of a meltdown?

The attack intensified fears about waging a modern war near nuclear reactors.

Nuclear expert Maria Rost Rublee told the ABC that problems would start if any of the plant’s six reactors lost their connection to the external grid.

If the Zaporizhzhia reactor lost connection to the external grid and diesel back-up generators failed, the ensuing nuclear disaster could potentially be worse than Chernobyl, Rublee said.

“This is quite dangerous. It’s exactly what we were warning about. This is the first time we’ve had active war carried out among active nuclear power plants.

“The real worry here is that firefighters and plant operators, because of the active war going on, won’t be able to get to the plant to take care of it the way it needs to happen.”

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University of Sydney expert David Fletcher said the plant’s cooling systems would be the focus.
“At present it seems as though it is only ancillary buildings that have been damaged by Russian missiles,” he said.