Missiles hit close to South Ukraine nuclear plant

Russian missiles came dangerously close — within 328 yards — of striking the South Ukraine nuclear power plant on Monday, according to Ukrainian authorities. Ukraine nuclear energy authority, Energoatom, released images of the strike, which took out a nearby hydroelectric power station. While Energoatom insists its nuclear power plants are designed to withstand the crash of a jet airliner, the agency remains skeptical that the plant would escape damage from a successful missile attack.

Until now, all eyes have been focused on the six-reactor Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, far closer to the most intense of the military action. But there are four operational nuclear sites in Ukraine with 15 reactors total, all of which present a grave danger should the fighting embroil them. At Beyond Nuclear, we have been warning about these risks since before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Headline photo of the missile strike close to the South Ukraine nuclear power plant by Energoatom via Telegram.