If you have never seen the mini series “Chernobyl” I cannot recommend it highly enough. It depicts the horror of a meltdown of a nuclear power plant, and how tragedies of this nature are caused by stupidity and political machinations. Right now we’re about to see a replay, may God help the people in that vicinity.
The Associated Press is reporting that Russian troops are shelling and have set fire to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Enerhodar, Ukraine.
BREAKING – Ukraine's FM confirms Zaporizhzhia fire:
"If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!" – Kuleba says
— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) March 4, 2022
⚡️⚡️⚡️Surveillance cameras captured moments of the shelling of the #Zaporizhzhia NPP pic.twitter.com/ZNLX4pZeXI
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 4, 2022
March 4 (Reuters) – The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the largest of its kind in Europe, was on fire early on Friday after an attack by Russian troops, the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar said.
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) March 4, 2022
This is a breaking story at 5:03 p.m. PST and will be updated as developments occur.
OK, NATO needs to put every fucking fire retardant they have on this right now. I was in the Army stationed in Berlin during Chernobyl. You can’t imagine the fear everyone had to buy any fresh produce or more importantly meat product from the former Iron Curtain countries. In fact, I think the end of the Soviet Empire started there. Let’s do what we can to limit environmental catastrophe w/o entering the war.
That was incredible. That was 1986, right? I think you’re probably right about the end of the Soviet Empire. I saw a stat years later on the spike in cancer in the region. Simply incredible. We can’t go through this again.
Exactly. Chernobyl happened in Apr 1986. The West was doing all it could to limit impacts and the former Iron Curtain countries that were close to the border were able to hear the unadulterated truth thanks to VOA. The fact that they totally relocated an entire city didn’t help their propaganda that it was a small exposure.
I hope that as I write this attack plans are being drawn up. For NATO aircraft to go in and obliterate Russian forces within fifty kilometers of that power plant. Is there really a choice at this point? WTF are the Russians thinking? I fear with his effort to recreate a newer, meaner version of the old USSR Putin has created a culture where despite seasoned professionals that kept things under control some young/youngish “apparatchik” or overeager military commander decides to please the big bosses by overfullfilling his orders.
This plant is of a better design than Chernobyl and probably has safeguards that allow for a shutdown with backup systems to keep coolant flowing to contain heat in the reactor. However, an out of control fire might compromise all that which is why we have passed the point where nations other than Ukraine can sit back and let them do the best they can with whatever we can send them.
At the very least the U.N. needs to send in a team from the Atomic Energy Commission made up of international experts and under the protection of U.N. Peacekeepers if not the NATO reaction force that’s been formed.
An Xi needs to be in direct contact with Putin letting him know that unless Russia backs off China will support NATO forces wiping out every Russian troop and asset around or near that nuclear plant. Xi has to now realize he made a bad bet in backing Putin’s play. He’s been looking for some distance since it became apparent it wouldn’t be the quick and easy operation Putin promised, and given Russia’s isolation that has been growing by the day this gives him an out. A way to denounce Russia and in a move that will benefit China in the long term help broker an end to this war that will greatly benefit China – and hobble Russia.
But the main thing is that before sunup NATO needs to be on the attack unless Russia withdraws ever soldier, every tank and every supply vehicle to well back (again, I say at least fifty kilometers) from that nuclear plant.
This is what Russia thinks…. “The glory of CZAR Nicholas will soon be ours again!!!!” “Imperialist Russia will rule the world as the West crumbles”. Someone needs to give this nutcase a bullet in the brain.
Um, WHICH Nicholas? Nicholas I did expand the Empire significantly but he also led Russia into the Crimean War (irony, no?), a war regarded as disastrous for Russia. And Nicholas II was the one the Bolsheviks murdered.
THIS…this is the mistake that is going to cost Putin everything else. The world can shrug off a lot and frequently does. But hitting a freaking NUKE PLANT? In the same country as Chernobyl? That’s all but saying how bad you want to take the world with you when you die.
I cannot imagine China can be thrilled with this. Should there be southerly/southeasterly winds when these idiots do the damage necessary to bring about radioactive fallout, that fallout will head China’s way. Can’t see Xi being pleased with having portions of his country being poisoned for however long that will be an issue.
Should these idiots succeed in their rampant stupidity, I cannot see NATO, the EU, or pretty much anyone NOT going after putie: worrying about nuclear war when a moron is about to precipitate a nuclear disaster is kind of silly.