FEARS of a disaster increased today after reports that Russian missiles attacked a second nuclear power station in Ukraine.
Dramatic video captured the moment large explosions could be seen early today morning close to the Pivdennoukrayinska nuclear power plant in the southern Mykolaiv region, although the reactors were unharmed.
Energoatom, the state-run nuclear power plant in Ukraine, said that shortly after midnight, Russian rockets landed 300 metres from nuclear reactors.
Ukraine’s energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, alleged that Russia is “blackmailing Europe with energy in order to bring the world to the brink of nuclear catastrophe out of desperation.”
The minister said on Facebook: “We observe Europe’s tenacity in the struggle against Russian energy aggression. But it takes dual efforts to stop Russian nuclear terrorism in Ukraine.
“The question of high prices for devices will become less relevant if “nuclear winter” occurs. The terrorist state must eventually receive a severe response from the entire world. It’s still not too late, and a nuclear catastrophe is simply a threat that, tragically, is becoming more real by the day.”
According to Reuters, the attack also caused damage to a nearby hydropower plant and transmission line. The explosion also damaged windows and briefly cut off the power.
“The Pivdennoukrainsk Nuclear Power Plant’s three power units are all currently running normally. Fortunately, nobody from the station employees was hurt “explained Energoatom.
In addition, President Zelensky denounced the assault on the Telegram messaging service.
“Even if the attackers had forgotten what a nuclear power plant was, they still intended to fire. Russia puts the entire globe in peril. Before it’s too late, we must stop it.”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the opposition in Belarus, turned to Twitter to express her concern that an additional Chernobyl disaster could result from rising radiation levels.
“Last night the world came close to a nuclear disaster once again, as a Russian rocket struck just 300 meters from the Pivdennoukrainsk Nuclear Power Plant,” she said on Twitter.
“This nuclear blackmail endangers not only Ukraine & Belarus, but the entire world.”
Russia is yet to comment.
