Headline Roundup • August 28th, 2022
In Ukraine, Artillery Shelling Near Nuclear Reactor Sparks Fears of Meltdown
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Recent artillery shelling between Russian and Ukrainian forces near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has raised fears of a potential reactor meltdown and radiation leak that could have devastating effects for the entire region. The power plant was captured by Russian forces in March and has since then been a hotspot on the southern front of the war, which has now waged for over 6 months.
Residents living near the plant have been supplied with iodine tablets in case of a leak at the nuclear facility. While both sides of the conflict have accused the other of targeting attacks on the power plant, the U.S. State Department accused Russia of not recognizing the radiological risk posed by artillery shelling in the areas surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after the Russian Federation blocked a U.N. nuclear disarmament treaty on Friday.
In a statement released on Sunday, The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that “safety systems remained operational and there had been no increase in radiation levels,” but emphasized the immense danger presented by ongoing military activity near Zaporizhzhia, which is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
The shelling was covered evenly by sources across the spectrum. The New York Post did not include the statement from the IAEA regarding the plant currently being stable.
Featured Coverage of this Story
AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Russia and Ukraine traded claims of rocket and artillery strikes at or near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant on Sunday, intensifying fears that the fighting could cause a massive radiation leak.
Ukraine’s atomic energy agency painted an ominous picture of the threat Sunday by issuing a map forecasting where radiation could spread from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which Russian forces have controlled since soon after the war began.
Attacks were reported over the weekend not only in Russian-controlled territory adjacent to the plant along the left bank of the...
REUTERS/Dmytro Smolienko
Russian rockets and artillery strikes hit areas across a river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, officials said Sunday, heightening fears of radiation leaks and possible catastrophe.
Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, was captured by Moscow soon after the war began six months ago. Russia also holds adjacent territory along the left bank of the wide Dnieper River, while Ukraine maintains control of the right bank, including two cities, Nikopol and Marhanets, which are each about six miles from the plant.
Periodic blasts have damaged the power...
REUTERS/Dmytro Smolienko
Russian artillery fired at Ukrainian towns across the river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant overnight, local officials said on Sunday, adding to residents' anguish as reports of shelling around the plant fuelled fears of a radiation disaster.
Russia's defence ministry said there was more Ukrainian shelling of the plant over the past 24 hours, just a day after Moscow and Kyiv traded accusations of targeting Europe's biggest nuclear plant, which has prompted grave international concern.
Ukrainian nuclear company Energoatom said it had no new information about attacks on the...
