Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a surprise visit to the UK to “meet my friend Rishi” – as Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko misses a high-profile ceremony, prompting speculation over his health. Ask our military analysts a question using the form below…
Your questions answered: Does Russia intend to cause a disaster at Europe’s largest nuclear plant?
Over the last week we have been putting your questions to our experts and military analysts (the question form is open again, above, for the rest of the day).
The latest to be tackled is from Sky News reader Issy, who asks if it is likely Russia intends to cause a disaster at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Military analyst and former Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell says…
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
On 4 March last year the invading Russian forces occupied the nuclear plant and have held it ever since, despite growing concerns from the international community and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The nuclear facility is important to Russia because it provides most of the electrical power to Crimea, which is also dependent on supplies of fresh water from the Kherson region.
As a result, quite apart from the reputational damage to Russia that would follow any disaster at the plant, they will also want to preserve the continued supply of electricity, which is why Russia claims the plant is now run by Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear power company.
Most analysts therefore conclude that it is in Russia’s interests to preserve the nuclear facility; however, given the dynamic nature of the war and the likelihood that the forthcoming Ukrainian counteroffensive will push Russian forces back, there are increasing concerns about the fate and vulnerability of the Zaporizhzhia plant.
Russian forces have been seen reinforcing the facility over recent weeks, and imagery showing Russian forces sandbagging and building defensive emplacements is of concern.
By “hiding” in such a strategically important facility, the Russian forces will attract Ukrainian military attention, and thus act as the catalyst for conflict within the grounds of the nuclear plant.
Fortunately, the reactors themselves are heavily reinforced and unlikely to be damaged, but the supporting infrastructure – much of it vital to the safe operation of the plant – is vulnerable.
Russia will claim that it is simply “protecting” the facility, but the stakes could not be higher should fighting erupt within the confines of this vast plant.
In sum, Russia has little to gain from a nuclear disaster, but has much to gain by leveraging its presence at the plant to slow or hinder the forthcoming Ukrainian spring offensive.
Source: Sky News
