Russia invaded Ukraine last Thursday morning in the traditional manner, blocking all talks and negotiations. So far, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in Russian military strikes on the first and second days. Ukraine’s military says it has killed more than 500 Russian troops. Russia has already occupied the Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. Attacking all sensitive installations, including military bases, airports, seaports, and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. On the day my article is published, countless people will die, millions will lose their land, and destruction will continue to increase. Russia’s main goal now is to seize control of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, as soon as possible.
It is said to be Russia’s deadliest military strike in two decades. The attack sparked a Cold War between NATO member states. It is difficult to say where this war will end. NATO superpowers — the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have so far refrained from military action, but Russia is facing a tough economic blockade. How Russian President Vladimir Putin will deal with this economic blockade remains to be seen.
Concerns over the severity of the attack on Ukraine are spreading worldwide. Oil prices have plummeted to between 80 and 105 a barrel. Food prices are already rising. Due to the Corona epidemic, the world economy is in a state of turmoil. Although there are many concerns in my mind, the biggest concern is the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.
First, 51 percent of Ukraine’s electricity comes from 15 running nuclear power plants. These power plants are not as strong as the design and safety system of the Russian Generation-2 in the 1960s and the current generation-3 plus reactors. Their security cannot last more than half an hour without electricity. On the other hand, these nuclear reactors are incapable of withstanding missile or bomber strikes. Cyber attacks can also destroy the power system and data system of a power plant. This can lead to more catastrophic conditions like Chernobyl if the power transmission line breaks down or the emergency cooling system does not start on time.
Second, the three major nuclear accidents that have occurred so far (Three Mile, Chernobyl and Fukushima) were due to inefficiency or negligence on the part of the workers. Now, if the workers are careless or careless about the security of the family and the country due to psychological or nervous stress, then there is a high risk of a nuclear accident.
Third, another highly sensitive issue is nuclear security risk. In times of war or political instability, nuclear security at nuclear facilities is extremely fragile. For this reason, national or regional terrorists are waiting for the opportunity to embezzle radioactive material in an attempt to make a dirty bomb, even a nuclear weapon. What a terrible thing! Then none of us will be safe.
On the first day of the military offensive in Ukraine, we saw Russia take control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on the Belarusian border and take the workers hostage. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant is still undergoing waste management at four reactors, and Ukraine has set up a central waste management unit for the management of high radioactive waste generated from the country’s 15 nuclear power plants.
According to international law, a nuclear power plant can never be the target of a military strike. If a damage to a nuclear power plant is caused by a defect in a missile or a bomber, the damage from a nuclear power plant will be far greater than the damage from a war. This will spread the radioactivity in many countries. Russia may not want to attack Ukraine’s nuclear power plants directly. I think, Russia wants to take control of nuclear facilities. As a result, Ukraine’s defense system will no longer work. Then Ukraine will have nothing to do.