Ukraine nuclear power plant

2022 - 3 - 4

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

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Image courtesy of "WYPR"

Russian forces in Ukraine attack and seize Europe's largest nuclear power plant (WYPR)

Updated March 4, 2022 at 5:18 AM ET. Ukrainian officials said on Friday that fire at the largest nuclear power plant in Europe has been extinguished, but that the facility is now under Russian control after fighting. In a later development at a Friday ...

Ukraine relies on 15 nuclear reactors spread throughout the country for around half of its electricity. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Twitter that she spoke with her Ukrainian counterpart and that the plant's reactors were being safely shut down. Footage also showed what appeared to be a fire in one of the plant's administrative buildings. The Zaporizhzhia plant provides a quarter of Ukraine's electricity. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, warned that if something similar happens at Zaporizhzhia, "it will be 10 times larger." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticized the Russian attack and said he would seek an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, The Associated Press reported. He said his organization has been in contact with Ukraine's nuclear regulator and managers at the plant after the strike. In an emotional middle-of-the-night speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the fire could mean "the end for everyone. Ukraine's nuclear regulator issued a statement confirming that the fire was out. "The battle is going on in the town of Enerhodar and on the road to the ZNPP [Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant] site," the regulator told the IAEA, adding that the situation was "critical." Radiation levels are normal," it said. "Russian forces are controlling the administrative building and passage into the plant," it says.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Ukraine nuclear power plant attack: All you need to know (Aljazeera.com)

Russian forces have captured Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, according to regional officials.

They also said there “was no reported change in radiation levels at the plant”. For the first time in human history, a terrorist state has resorted to nuclear terror. Tell your politicians Russian troops are shooting at a nuclear power plant in Ukraine.” The President will continue to be briefed regularly. Ukrainian authorities said on Friday Russian shelling had caused a fire at a building in the plant complex that was later put out. Instead, it is used to power another uncontaminated steam circuit which then turns the turbines.

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Image courtesy of "CNA"

Situation at Ukrainian nuclear plant 'secured' after shelling by ... (CNA)

KYIV: Ukrainian authorities said the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was now secured, after a fire broke out on Friday (Mar 4) when the ...

Advertisement "If there is an explosion, it is the end of everything. Advertisement Ukraine's emergency services said on Facebook that they had gained access to the plant. Advertisement "The director of the plant said that the nuclear safety is now guaranteed.

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Image courtesy of "CNA"

Russian forces seize huge Ukrainian nuclear plant, fire extinguished (CNA)

KYIV: Russian forces seized the largest nuclear power plant in Europe after a building at the complex was set ablaze during intense fighting with Ukrainian ...

Putin called Russia's actions in Ukraine a "special operation" that is not designed to occupy territory but to topple the democratically elected government, destroy its neighbour's military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists. "Mariupol remains under Ukrainian control but has likely been encircled by Russian forces," the Ministry of Defence said. The Zaporizhzhia plant is a different and safer type, analysts said. "Markets are worried about nuclear fallout. "Europeans, please wake up. Advertisement

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant: everything you need to know (The Guardian)

Russian forces in Ukraine have been shelling the Zaporizhzhia power plant, the largest nuclear plant of its kind in Europe.

The reactors have large concrete containments and built-in fire protection systems, he said, adding: “Obviously, it’s not a good idea if you start shooting massive missiles at reactors,” he said. The US also said their latest information showed no indication of elevated radiation levels at the plant. It is about 200km from the contested Donbas region and 550km south-east of Kyiv. He said the pressurised water reactors were “a lot safer” than the reactors at Chernobyl, and did not appear to be damaged yet. It has six reactors, each generating 950MW, and a total output of 5,700MW, enough energy for roughly 4m homes. A short time later, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service reported that radiation at the plant was “within normal limits” and the fire conditions at the plant were “normal”. It reported that the fire was in a building outside the power plant.

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Image courtesy of "The Conversation US"

Russian troops fought for control of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine ... (The Conversation US)

The world held its collective breath as Russian troops battled Ukrainian forces at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The battle is over and no radiation ...

War, in my opinion, is the worst enemy of nuclear safety. Governance, regulation and oversight – all crucial for the safe running of a nuclear industry – are also disrupted, as is local infrastructure, such as the capability of local firefighters. One of the overarching concerns is that war degrades safety culture, which is crucial in running a plant. War adversely affects the safety culture in a number of ways. In situations like that you get “ station blackout” – and that is one of the worst things that could happen. The worst-case scenario is that a bunker-buster missile breaches the containment dome – consisting of a thick shell of reinforced concrete on top of the reactor – and explodes. One of the problems in the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan was the emergency generators, which replaced lost off-site power, got inundated with water and failed. One concern is that the workers will not be allowed to change shifts, meaning longer hours and tiredness. Stress increases the chance of error and poor performance. This spent fuel pool isn’t in the containment building, and as such is more vulnerable. The reactors at Zaporizhzhia are of moderately good design. The site of that disaster is also under Russian control as of Feb. 24, 2022.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Zelenskiy says 'Europe must wake up' after assault sparks nuclear ... (The Guardian)

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, was seized by Russian forces on Friday, after an attack that started a fire close ...

“If the electricity is taken out, the back-up generators kick in, but if those don’t kick in or their diesel fuel is set on fire, for example, the pumps can’t pump cold water into the reactor and into the spent fuel pools. She warned, however, that the pools holding spent fuel rods could be more of a worry. “The fuel there is not as active, but they are usually overstuffed,” Budjeryn said. “This is the first time in our history, in the history of mankind, the terrorist state now resorted to nuclear terror.” VVER reactors are considered much safer than the type of reactor that blew up in Chernobyl in 1986, for example. “Only immediate action of Europe can stop Russian troops and prevent the death of Europe from the disaster at a nuclear station.” The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, also spoke to Zelenskiy after news of the fire broke. “The situation continues to be extremely tense and challenging,” Grossi said. Zelenskiy said earlier on Friday while the fire was still blazing that Europe “must wake up now. After all, we fought together in 1986 against the Chernobyl catastrophe,” he said in a televised address. She said attacks on nuclear facilities are a direct violation of the Geneva conventions. It is necessary that another shift comes to work,” Kotin said on Energoatom’s Telegram channel.

Ukrainian nuclear power plant attack condemned as Russian troops 'occupy' facility (unknown)

Russian troops have occupied Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant, with managers working at "gunpoint" after a fire caused by their attack was extinguished ...

The IAEA said in a statement that Ukraine had informed it staff held at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant since Russian military forces took control of the site a week ago were facing "psychological pressure and moral exhaustion." Petro Kotin, head of Ukraine's nuclear power operator Energoatom, later reported that management were operating at "gunpoint." He said on Telegram that Russian forces "entered the territory of the nuclear power plant, took control of the personnel and management of the nuclear power plant." The Russian government has routinely and without evidence claimed the Ukrainian government is staging "provocations" to provoke a military response by Western governments.It's the not first nuclear plant to come under threat from the Russian invasion. On the first day of the assault, Russian forces seized control of the Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, according to Ukrainian officials. In a video briefing, Russian Ministry of Defense spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Russian forces took the city of Enerhodar, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the territory adjacent to it on February 28. Konashenkov claimed the plant's technical staff continued regular work on the facilities, but that Ukrainian forces attempted a "monstrous provocation" in the early hours of Friday. Konashenkov also claimed the Ukrainians had set fire to the training building themselves.Smoke rises from tire barricades set on fire in Enerhoda, Ukraine, on March 3. He said that what happens next at Zaporizhzhia is "a situation that is very difficult to sustain, very fragile" while there is an active military operation and Russian forces in control. He explained that a Russian projectile had hit a building within the site, causing a localized fire, but none of the reactors were affected and radiation monitoring systems are fully functional.Ukrainian staff are still at the helm of operations at the plant, but "effective control" of the site was in the hands of Russian forces, Grossi said, adding: "I hope the distinction is clear." "We are fortunate there has not been a release of radioactive material and the integrity of the reactors has not been compromised," he said. However, he also expressed his gratitude to NATO countries that have shown support for Ukraine.Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the establishment of a no-fly zone in Ukraine by the US and it's NATO allies could lead to a "full-fledged war in Europe," but said Washington would continue to work with it's allies to provide Ukrainians with the means to defend themselves from Russian aggression.Reports of the attack on the facility emerged early Friday morning, with video of the scene showing bursts of gunfire apparently directed at the Zaporizhzhia facility before dawn.Flames could also be seen on video footage, though for some time it was unclear where the fire was or the scale of the threat posed to the facility. However, the operator and regulator have relayed to the IAEA that the situation on the ground is "extremely tense and challenging," he warned. Former CIA officer explains the challenges of tracking oligarchs' yachts'They want to kill people:' Syrian journalist compares Russia's involvement in Syria and UkraineRetired general reacts to new images of 40-mile long Russian convoy'A beacon of hope': CNN sits with composer using music to help Ukrainians 'This is what you get': Ukraine claims to have defeated convoy Woman who was inside bombed hospital gives birthEx-CIA official explains who Putin should be afraid ofUkrainians resort to desperate measures for food and waterFormer CIA officer explains the challenges of tracking oligarchs' yachts'They want to kill people:' Syrian journalist compares Russia's involvement in Syria and UkraineRetired general reacts to new images of 40-mile long Russian convoy'A beacon of hope': CNN sits with composer using music to help Ukrainians 'This is what you get': Ukraine claims to have defeated convoy Woman who was inside bombed hospital gives birthEx-CIA official explains who Putin should be afraid ofUkrainians resort to desperate measures for food and waterRussian troops have occupied Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant, with managers working at "gunpoint" after a fire caused by their attack was extinguished, according to Ukrainian nuclear officials.

How safe are Ukraine’s nuclear power plants amid Russian attacks? (unknown)

Ukraine is heavily dependent on nuclear energy – it has four main power plants, with 15 reactors, generating about half its electricity. On Friday, the ...

The cooling systems rely on diesel generators, so any damage to these – or if fuel was siphoned off for other purposes – could cause an incident similar to that at Fukushima, where the plant’s power failed after a tsunami. The Chernobyl reactor used graphite to keep the nuclear reaction under control and the disaster was caused by a graphite fire. The Zaporizhzhia plant – and those at Ukraine’s other main plants, Khmelnitski, Rovno and South Ukraine – has pressurised water reactors, a more modern type that do not involve graphite. “If there’s going to be a major nuclear incident it’s because something deliberately is being done,” said Tom Scott, professor in materials at the University of Bristol. “Surely nobody is going to be that stupid. Reports from the site suggest that staff have continued to control operations. The wind is blowing towards Russia at the moment.”

Ukraine nuclear power plant attack (unknown)

Russia's attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in southeast Ukraine highlights the possible dangers of warfare around nuclear sites.

The main impact of such a crisis could be related to psychology and how people — including politicians and policymakers — react. A similar event could occur if there is damage to the systems — including pumps, heat exchangers and back-up diesel generators — that provide active cooling and are outside a reactor’s protective containment structure, says Okamoto. “Any nuclear reactor could be damaged when coolants are lost.” There are safety systems in place at Ukrainian plants that make the reactors resilient to this damage. The ruins of the reactor that exploded in 1986 are enclosed in a massive 63-metre-tall steel and concrete shell called the sarcophagus. “You have to remove the decay heat,” Bluck says. “Russia needs to keep in mind that the prevailing winds are towards Russia,” Rofer tells Nature. But the incident has highlighted the possible dangers of warfare around nuclear sites, he and others say.

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