Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Table of Contents

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant: Present Situation

Russian control: The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant station has been under Russian control since last few months.
Currently, the nuclear plant is being operated by Ukrainian staff but guarded by Russian soldiers.
Attacks on plant: Intense shelling and mortar attacks from both the parties have damaged critical infrastructure related to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
Both Russia and Ukraine have been accusing each other of running false flag operation to damage the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant and put blame on the other.
Radiation levels: Despite being hit by shelling and being damaged, the radiation level around the plant has been stable.
This is the first time that a nuclear installation has been caught in a military conflict, that too one that is in operation.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant has six reactors, which can together produce about 5,700 MW of electricity.
The nuclear plant is located on the southern shore of the Kakhovka Reservoir on the Dnieper river.
The plant produces nearly half of the country’s electricity derived from nuclear power, and contributes to more than a fifth of total electricity generated in Ukraine.

Structural integrity: Modern nuclear reactors are built to withstand considerable shock and impact. They are built with several layers of reinforced steel and concrete, and also elaborate fire security systems.
Most of these reactors can survive earthquakes of magnitude 8 or higher. They are also designed to shut down automatically when they sense major natural hazards.
Direct target: Gunfire or even shelling is unlikely to cause much harm to the reactor. However, powerful bombs or missile attacks can seriously damage reactor and trigger nuclear disaster.
Other critical infrastructure: Buildings and water pools for storing used and unused nuclear fuel are not as sturdy as the reactor, and can suffer significant damage in heavy fighting.
Cooling system: The reactor needs external electricity for running cooling system. In absence of cooling system, the reactor can heat up and explode.
Damage to the electrical lines feeding the reactor can affect the safety of the reactor.
Human error: Currently a small staff is operating the plant, which has led to understaffing.
Overworked and stressed workers and engineers can cause serious errors, leading to disasters.
Stealing of nuclear fuel: Rogue elements can make use of the situation to steal nuclear material from the site.
They can use nuclear material to make dirty bombs, or to sell it in the illegal nuclear market.
Ukraine is currently a member of nuclear NPT and every bit of nuclear material and fuel is accounted

Nuclear disaster is an event arising from leakage of nuclear radiation that can cause significant consequences to people, the environment or the facility.
The prime example of nuclear disaster is in which a reactor core is damaged and significant amounts of radioactive isotopes are emitted.

Protection: Potassium iodide can be used to protect thyroid from radioactive iodine. It is used during a nuclear radiation emergency.