Russia-Ukraine Fighting Around Zaporizhzhia Plant Could Lead To Nuclear Catastrophe

There is reported more shelling around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, a result of the continued war involving Russia and Ukraine.

There were reportedly 10 hits on the office and the fire station of Europe’s biggest power plant on Thursday, an alarming development.

The UN Security Council convened to discuss the situation, something they called a “grave hour.”

Per UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, being unable to address the matter could lead to disaster.

Countries such as China and the United States have called for UN experts to visit the plant. Unfortunately like before, no action has been taken.

Aside from this, there have been calls for a demilitarized zone around the plant.

“Fighting near a nuclear plant is dangerous and irresponsible,” a state department spokesperson said in a report by BBC.

Unfortunately, this was not an option according to Russia’s UN representative. They bat that this would make the plant vulnerable to provocations and terrorist attacks.

The new shelling comes about a week after the facility and its surrounding area in central-eastern Ukraine saw shelling last week. Similar to their response at present, Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of the attack.

Ukraine says that Russia turned the plant into a military base, launching attacks from there since they know that Ukraine's military forces are unlikely to attack. However, Moscow shoots down this claim.

“They say it’s Russia,” former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram via The Guardian. “That’s obviously 100% nonsense, even for the stupid Russophobic public.”

“The Ukrainian armed forces do not damage the infrastructure [of the plant], do not strike where there may be a danger on a global scale,” army spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk said on national television. “We understand that the invaders are hiding behind such a shield because it is not possible to strike there.”

This development comes after Ukraine accused Russia of firing rockets around the nuclear plant, killing at least 13 people and wounding 10 others.