We came a hair’s breadth away from seeing another nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, just as high-level meetings between Western security officials and Ukrainian leadership were about to get under way in Munich, Germany. The meeting included Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky leveled accusations at Russia of launching a high-powered drone that featured an explosive warhead at the defunct power plant, which as we know is the site of the nuclear disaster that occurred in April 1986. It’s being reported that the drone hit the protective containment shell of the plant.
This would have no doubt been the straw that broke the camel’s back and launched us into World War III. If this really was the work of Russia, it’s clear they are looking for a way to start a global conflict. This would have been absolutely devastating, probably far worse than the original disaster, which was horrific.
We still don’t know exactly how many people died due to the original disaster. Some estimate the death toll between 4,000 and 90,000. Imagine how many more lives would be lost if that bomb penetrated the shell. All of that dangerous radiation being released into the air would cause all kinds of issues.
According to ZeroHedge, “Zelensky’s office released footage showing an impact to the giant concrete and steel shield protecting the remains of the nuclear reactor. BBC writes that “The shield is designed to prevent further radioactive material leaking out over the next century. It measures 275m (900ft) wide and 108m (354ft) tall and cost $1.6bn (£1.3bn) to construct.”
Another article from the Washington Post also discusses potential dangers:
In 2019, construction was completed on the New Safe Confinement — a $1.7 billion arch-shaped steel structure, which would contain the destroyed reactor. The site still contained some “200 tons of highly radioactive material,” according to the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, which helped finance the project.
“Thus the situation is deeply alarming given the potential for a new radiation leak at the site which could impact the region, or even Europe. An IAEA team on the ground said it heard an explosion at around 01:50 local time coming from the New Safe Confinement (NSC) shelter. Photos showed flames at the top of the huge structure,” the article said.
As of this writing the UN agency is on high alert, however they put out a statement that said the drone strike did not, thankfully, breach the plant’s inner containment shell. They also did not assign blame, nor did they provide the identity of who sent the drone.
Officials at the Kremlin issued a strong denial of their involvement in the incident:
“There is no talk about strikes on nuclear infrastructure, nuclear energy facilities, any such claim isn’t true, our military doesn’t do that,” Peskov told reporters in a call.
The state media in Russia has been blasting reports concerning efforts carried out by bad actors who are trying to wreck the peace plan developed by President Donald Trump for Ukraine, after holding a 90-minute phone conversation with Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, earlier this week.
Zelensky has asserted that Putin is not actually ready for or seeking legitimate negotiations, contradicting recent statements coming from the Trump White House. On Friday, he claimed: “The only country in the world that attacks such sites, occupies nuclear power plants, and wages war without any regard for the consequences is today’s Russia.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate has in a fresh statement said that while the drone damaged “the external integrity” of the New Safe Confinement “and equipment in the crane maintenance garage” – it remains that there are no observable radiation spikes. “Firefighting efforts and damage assessment are ongoing,” it added.
Could Russia be lying about their involvement? What would they have to gain from doing such a thing? Nothing really, especially with Trump’s attempt at brokering peace.
Could Zelensky have been behind this incident? Is he desperate enough to have his country’s economy continue to be propped up by foreign aid that he would bomb Chernobyl? Who knows?
At the end of the day, without more information, it’s just speculation.
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