The White House has responded to the Russian attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – which is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. According to Ukrainian officials, the attack could cause a disaster “10 times larger than Chernobyl.”
According to a statement from the White House, President Biden “spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine this evening to receive an update on the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. President Biden joined President Zelenskyy in urging Russia to cease its military activities in the area and allow firefighters and emergency responders to access the site.”
Biden also “spoke this evening with Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the U.S. Department of Energy and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Jill Hruby to receive an update on the situation at the plant. The President will continue to be briefed regularly.”
On Thursday, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba announced on Twitter that the “Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!”
Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 4, 2022
According to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, the reactors at the facility are being “safely shut down.”
“I just spoke with Ukraine’s energy minister about the situation at the Zaphorizhizia nuclear plant. Russian military operations near the plant are reckless and must cease,” Granholm tweeted on Thursday evening. “The plant’s reactors are protected by robust containment structures and reactors are being safely shut down.”
