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

“The real concern is not a catastrophic explosion as happened at Chernobyl but damage to the cooling system which is required even when the reactor is shut down. It was this type of damage that led to the Fukushima accident.”

What could happen if a reactor is seriously damaged?

Rublee said any potential meltdown would have massive implications not just for Ukraine, but for the rest of Europe, including Russia, and even Australia.

“This is nuclear radiation being spread all across the region,” she said.

“It also affects Australia, because nuclear radiation cannot be contained by space and so it won’t be as bad as it will be for neighboring regions, but that goes into the atmosphere and that radiation affects all of us.”