Russia Just Seized The Chernobyl Nuclear Plant & Ukraine Is Warning Of Possible 'Disaster'
"It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe," a Ukrainian official said.
The Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
Russia fought Ukraine for control of the Chernobyl nuclear plant on Thursday, in a high-risk move on Day 1 of its invasion.
Russian forces moved on the power plant from Belarus, marching through the radioactive exclusion zone around the disaster site before battling Ukrainian forces around the reactors, according to the New York Times.
Ukrainian officials sounded the alarm shortly after the attack started, saying that a stray artillery shell could easily lead to another disaster.
"This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted. "Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated."
Russia seized control of the site after a few hours of fighting, Reuters reports.
"It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians," Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Zelensky, told Reuters.
"This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today."
It's unclear what damage might have been caused at the site, if any, but Ukrainian officials are worried about what might have happened during the fight.
Ukraine's interior minister, Anton Gerashchenko, warned that damage to the site could release "radioactive nuclear dust" that could spread widely around the region.
Ukraine's foreign ministry also warned about the severity of the situation, tweeting that it could "cause another ecological disaster."
In 1986, the world saw the biggest technological disaster in Chornobyl. 's attack on Ukraine may cause another ecological disaster moving its military forces to Chornobyl. If continues the war, Chornobyl can happen again in 2022. #StopRussianAggression \n#RussiaInvadedUkrainepic.twitter.com/WOdmOfPmhx— MFA of Ukraine \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@MFA of Ukraine \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1645714842
"In 1986, the world saw the biggest technological disaster in Chernobyl," read the tweet by the ministry. "If Russia continues the war, Chernobyl can happen again in 2022."
The nuclear reactor that melted down in 1986 is currently under a giant concrete sarcophagus.
The area around the site is not immediately deadly to visitors, but there's a 30 kilometre "exclusion zone" around the area that remains uninhabited, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
- Russia Launched A Military Attack On Ukraine Overnight & Here's ... ›
- A Man Just Reported On Russia-Ukraine In 6 Different Languages ... ›
- Canada Urges Travellers To Avoid Ukraine Due To 'Russian Threats ... ›
- Russia Just Moved Troops Into Ukraine & Global Gas Prices Could ... ›
- Ontario Liberal Party Leader Calls On The LCBO To Remove All Russian Vodka From Shelves - Narcity ›
- Ukraine's President Zelensky Says He's Russia's 'No. 1 Target' In The Attack On Kyiv - Narcity ›
- Russia Says Chernobyl Is Fine After Radiation Spiked During A Fierce Battle In Ukraine - Narcity ›
- A Fearless Woman Used Sunflower Seeds To Tell Off Russians In Ukraine & The Video Is Intense - Narcity ›
- Some North Americans Are Ditching Russian Vodka & Boycotting It To Support Ukraine - Narcity ›
- Putin Put Russian Nuclear Forces On 'Special Alert' As Ukraine Tension Escalates - Narcity ›
- Yvonne Strahovski Marched With Torontonians At A Protest For Ukraine This Weekend - Narcity ›
- Countries Are Hitting Russia With Sanctions Instead Of War & Here's What That Actually Means - Narcity ›
- The UN Condemned Putin's Ukraine Invasion In A Huge Vote & Only 4 Nations Backed Russia - Narcity ›
- Russia Seized Ukraine's Largest Nuclear Plant In A 'Reckless' Attack That Caused A Fire - Narcity ›
- Feds Urge Canadians To Leave Russia ASAP As They May Not Be Able To Help Those Who Stay - Narcity ›
- A Russian Gymnast Is In Big Trouble For Wearing A 'Z' & Here's Why It's A Dig At Ukraine - Narcity ›
- A Boy Crossed Ukraine Alone To Escape The Russians With Only A Phone Number On His Hand - Narcity ›
- This Ukraine TikTok Influencer Went From Sharing Photo Tips To War Reporting In Just A Week - Narcity ›
- 'Proud' Ukrainian Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher Are Aiming For The Biggest GoFundMe Drive Ever - Narcity ›
- McDonald's Is Closing Over 800 Restaurants In Russia & It's Trying To 'Do The Right Thing' - Narcity ›
- Russia Is Moving To Label Facebook & Instagram Parent Meta An 'Extremist Organization' - Narcity ›
- A TikToker Fled Ukraine & She Filmed The Heartbreaking Moment When She Left Her Dad Behind - Narcity ›
- Stolichnaya Vodka Just Changed Its Name & It Wants Nothing To Do With Russia Boycotts - Narcity ›
- Russian Influencers Are Crying Over Putin's Instagram Ban & They're Getting Roasted Online - Narcity ›
- The Boy Who Fled Ukraine With Only A Phone Number On His Hand Was Reunited With His Mom - Narcity ›
- Zelenskyy Just Told The UN That Russia Is Committing 'War Crimes' In Bucha, Ukraine - Narcity ›
- The UN Just Suspended Russia From Its Human Rights Council Over 'Gross' Abuses In Ukraine - Narcity ›
- Russia Is Cracking Down On Canada's Politicians & So Many Are Now On Its 'Black List' - Narcity ›
- Russia Warns There's A 'Real' Risk Of Nuclear War If The West Keeps Backing Ukraine - Narcity ›
- Zelenskyy Just Gave Ukraine's 'Hero' Dog A Medal For Sniffing Out Hundreds Of Bombs - Narcity ›
- A Russian Auctioned Off His Nobel Prize For Children In Ukraine & It Shattered A Record - Narcity ›