Ukrainian power authorities said the giant nuclear powered generating facility has been shut down. The last two reactors were taken off-line after fires broke out in ash pits of a near-by coal plant. Located on the east bank of the Dnieper River, Russian troops have occupied the facility since early in their invasion of eastern Ukraine. Russia says it plants to connect Europe's largest nuclear power station to its grid, a plan Ernegoatom said that is "wishful thinking". The disconnect is the first in the plant's operating history.
Concerns remain that errant shelling may damage the containment buildings that could lead to a Chernobyl-size radiation release. After Putin relented and agreed to international inspection of the plant's safety and operation, IAEA inspectors are set to go in within days. The map shows the location of Ukraine's other nuclear facilities. Its 15 reactors supply about half of Ukraine's electricty, a situation that has become highly problematic given that two of its plants Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia have become military targets. International safety experts want Zaporizhzhia to be demilitarized immediately to insure safe operation.
For now experts say the situation is fragile but stable. Russian forces shelled the plant on March 3rd and then took it over without damaging the reactors. Russia wants Ukraine to pay for power from Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine authorities have said 'fat chance', and 'no deal' with the occupiers. Slava Ukraini!
 |
| radioactive steam rises from destroyed Chernobyl #4 |