Risks from situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

[Pistom]

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, I'm sure mods will move, close or delete as appropriate.

It may well be covered in the Ukraine thread but I feel this deserves a thread of its own.

So this is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, is occupied by Russian troops and it is said that they are using it as a form of shield on the basis that it would be too dangerous for Ukraine to attack.

In addition to the power plant, there's a spent fuel storage and reprocessing.

It's said to be mined by the Russians but it has been reported that even though there are Russians stationed there, the Russians have been firing on it.

Surely a major leak of radioactive material from a facility like that could make current world problems seem like a minor irritation.

Can anyone advise where to buy iodine from?

Or am I over worried about something which is unlikely to happen?

[gruffalo]

If you live to the south east of the power plant you may have a problem but then not as bad as Chernobyl.

If you live to the north west you are less exposed.

I would guess your chemist can help you with Iodine but I would suggest you are wasting your money as I very much doubt Russia wants to alienate itself from the world even more by being so stupid as to blow up a nuclear power station.

[Pistom]

Yes it makes sense that Russia would be potential victims but the greater concern is the potential for any unintended incidents.

[Dog Star]

gruffalo said:

I very much doubt Russia wants to alienate itself from the world even more by being so stupid as to blow up a nuclear power station.

They might just use it to make some sort of false flag situation though - accuse the Ukranians of blowing it up, hoping it'll stop the Russians getting the massive kicking that is surely in the post by now. Or use it as an excuse to use tactical nuclear weapons to save the day and stop them losing and getting said massive kicking.

The more dire their situation gets, the more likely that they are going to do something really, really stupid. One would hope that the US have made it very very plain to them that the use of such weapons is a total red line and will result in a devastating response. I don't know if such communication channels exist.

I have absolutely zero confidence that the Russians will display even the tiniest vestige of honesty, honour or human decency. Utter trash.