Are We About to Face a Nuclear Disaster?

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was today disconnected from the national power grid after Russian shelling and fires at the facility, Kyiv's energy operator said, jeopardising its cooling systems in a bid to secure supplies for Crimea.

Fires broke out in the ash pits of a coal power station near the reactor complex and interfered with power lines connecting the plant to the grid, Energoatom claimed.

Russian fire and artillery damage to Europe's biggest nuclear facility, in war-torn south-eastern Ukraine, reportedly forced its occupiers to unplug the site to protect energy flows to Moscow-held territories.

Regional mayor Dmytro Orlov said nearby Russian-occupied town Enerhodar was in the midst of a blackout and residents had no access to running water as a result of the disconnection.

Energoatom had warned this morning that such a move would jeopardise its cooling systems and risk a mass nuclear meltdown.

Energoatom confirmed via Telegram this afternoon: 'The actions of the invaders caused a complete disconnection of [Zaporizhzhia] from the power grid - the first in the history of the plant.