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The closure of the Zaporizhia NPP in Ukraine, announced by the Russian occupiers, could cause a disaster like the one in the Japanese "Fukushima-1" in 2011. Experts from the State Inspection for Nuclear Regulation in Kyiv issued this warning, the Ukrainian publication "Dzerkalo Tyzhnia" informed today.

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Russia's defense ministry said yesterday that the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant could be shut down if Ukrainian forces continue shelling the site - something Kyiv denies it has been doing.

Ukrainian military intelligence meanwhile warned of a possible Russian operation at the nuclear power plant today, after workers at the power plant seized by Russia in early March were told to stay home on Friday.

Ukraine claims that Russia has banned Zaporozhye NPP employees from going to work tomorrow

If the power supply to the plant is interrupted, the cooling systems may fail, the reactor cores may be damaged and radioactive substances may be released into the environment.

According to this scenario, the accident in "Fukushima" developed, but due to natural cataclysms, reminds "Dzerkalo Tizhnya".

Constant power supply is necessary for the NPP's own needs - for cooling the nuclear fuel in the active areas and the spent fuel in the pools and for maintaining the control and management systems.

For this purpose, either the power units must work, or energy must be obtained from the outside.

A stable external power supply must be guaranteed when all units are shut down.

However, the shelling damaged three of the four power lines connecting the NPP to Ukraine's energy system.

If the fourth is also damaged, the plant will not be able to receive energy for its needs.

Its short-term needs can be met with diesel generators, but for them to work for a long time, diesel fuel is needed.

And according to specialists, the Russian military may hinder fuel supplies.

Once the power supply stops, the nuclear fuel will begin to melt and radioactive substances may leak out.

Russia rejects idea of ​​demilitarization around Zaporozhye NPP

The Zaporizhia NPP has six power units and a dry storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

Therefore, "the development of the accident will not be limited to regional problems for Ukraine, but may lead to cross-border consequences", warn the experts.

Depending on weather conditions, the radioactive cloud may be carried to the territory of Europe or to Russia and Belarus, where it will cause radioactive contamination of vast territories.

In addition, contaminated water from the Kakhovsky Dam could enter the Dnieper and the Black Sea, Ukraine's State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation predicts.

Russian invasion of Ukraine