Just as the Russians themselves are shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant that they control (don’t believe me, ask the truthful Ukrainians) so the Russians must have targeted their own ammunition dump in Crimea. 🙀🤣🤣
/sarc
Next up: Sevastopol.
There is an article this morning that discusses the Zaporizhia NPP [nuclear reactor]
TITLE: “The disaster at the ZAES may pose a threat to Russia itself: Die Welt explained what Putin is trying to achieve with blackmail”
Russia holds in its hands the levers of escalation of the situation around the Zaporizhia NPP, but it is unlikely to resort to extreme measures. After all, a nuclear accident in Zaporozhye will endanger the territory of Russia itself. ZAES is located at a distance of about 400 km in a straight line from the densely populated southern Russian cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar.
This opinion is shared by analysts of the German publication Die Welt. At the same time, the Kremlin will continue to manipulate the nuclear threat, as it sees a frightening reaction from the West to reports of attacks on a nuclear power plant.
“Russia holds the levers of escalation in its hands. Since March, Russian troops have been serving the territory of the power plant with approximately 500 soldiers and do not allow NPP workers to change. They were only informed that they were currently working for the Russian nuclear power company Rosenergoatom.
Can Russia continue to escalate the situation? At first glance, this would be in the interests of Moscow. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 was a crucial experience for Europeans in the fight against the danger of nuclear energy. Wind-borne radioactive particles have reached Western Europe. The fear of a repeat of this catastrophe can be used by Moscow as a tool of pressure on Europeans, who, in turn, will put pressure on Ukrainians to make concessions in the war,” writes Die Welt.
The publication suggests that previous attacks may be a harbinger of more serious damage to the nuclear power plant : from another temporary power outage of the reactor cooling systems to damage to the reactor units. The latter will be the highest level of escalation, achievable only by targeted aerial bombardment. Then Moscow will cause the release of radioactivity, which can affect the whole of Europe.
“But that’s where the problems with this line of arguments start. Like Chernobyl, a serious nuclear accident in Zaporizhia would also endanger Russian territory. The nuclear power plant is located about 200 kilometers in a straight line from the Russian-occupied Crimea and about 400 kilometers in a straight line from the densely populated southern Russian cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar. The Black Sea will also be under threat,” says the German analyst.
Therefore, according to the publication, Moscow should be very careful about the scale of escalation that needs to be managed. Minor incidents, such as spent fuel rods, pose a danger only within a 30-kilometer radius of the power plant.
“However, Moscow should also be aware that any deterioration in the situation around the Zaporizhia NPP will increasingly put the war with Ukraine on the European agenda with uncertain consequences. Instead of allowing the Europeans to reduce their support for Ukraine, the result may be the opposite: even more support and even more solidarity,” writes Die Welt.
“There is another argument against further provocations on the part of Russia: Russia wants to get electricity from Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. ... Before the war, a power plant with six reactors covered a fifth of Ukraine’s electricity needs. Now this energy, obviously, should benefit the Russian – occupied Crimea,” the German newspaper concludes.
As OBOZREVATEL reported earlier, due to the lack of significant achievements at the front, the Kremlin has increased its nuclear blackmail. In particular, this was the reason for the shelling of Energodar.
- On August 5, the Russian invaders shelled the territory of the Zaporizhia NPP – three arrivals were recorded near the industrial site, the enemy hit a high-voltage communication line. At the same time, Russian troops fired at the city of Nikopol from the territory of the ZAES, provoking the Ukrainian armed forces to respond.
- On August 15, the Russian invaders once again staged a provocation in Energodar, where the largest nuclear power plant in Europe is located. The Russian army carried out about 15 strikes on the city. Smoke was visible near the Zaporizhia NPP.
Why you could even see images of the shelling on line as well as Orc comments about it and, even daringly, ask the International Atomic Energy Agency, but that work might strain the brain.
Read the Russian talking points more carefully. It was careless smoking.