Another Chernobyl? Warning bells ring as Russia deploys huge number of troops near Zaporizhzhia

Before war, there were over 11,000 people used to work at the Zaporizhzhia plant. At present, two years since the war began, only 4,000 people are working. (Reuters file photo)

On February 24 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched ‘special military operation’ targeting its neighbour Ukraine. It was meant to be a swift mission with easy gains for the Red Army. Two years later, the war is nowhere its end. While the fall of Avdiivka may change the game for Russia, there are fresh warnings about the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Ever since the Ukraine-Russia war began, experts have been raising concerns about damage to the nuclear power plant – intentional or unintentional. In case the plant is hit by a missile strike, it may trigger a Chernobyl-like disaster that will not only impact Europe but the entire world.

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While military action is around Avdiivka right now, tension is looming over Zaporizhzhia. A CNN report said that Russia has begun depying massive number of troops in the region. The report claims that as many as 50,000 soldiers have been deployed in Zaporizhzhia. This region was where Ukraine had attempted to launch its big counteroffensive ops last year in summer.

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Last week, experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency visited the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed. The IAEA team visited the nuclear power plant’s training centre to check the main control room operators who are getting additional simulator training. According to an NBC report, International Atomic Energy Agency has called the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is the ‘most dangerous nuclear facility’ on Earth. The report says that the key issues affecting the safety of the nuclear power plant are – military strikes, power cuts and staff crunch. There have a as many as eight blackouts at the plant till December last year. Before war, there were over 11,000 people used to work at the plant. At present, two years since the war began, only 4,000 people are working. With Russia amassing troops in the region once again, Zaporizhzhia may just become new flashpoint in the ongoing the war.