Nuclear alert in Kursk: Putin denounces Ukrainian attacks on a major nuclear power plant

Ukraine's successful invasion of Kursk has raised alarm bells about nuclear danger. At least that is what Russia has claimed.

There is a major nuclear power plant in the Kursk region of Russia (now occupied by Ukraine). It is located in the town of Kurchatov.

Image: From RIA Novosti archive, image #341199 / Sergey Pyatakov / CC-BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

According to the description of the Kursk nuclear power plant on Wikipedia, it is very similar to the Chernobyl plant (pictured), with six RBMK-1000 type reactors.

Image: From IAEA Imagebank - 02790022, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Putin denounced on Thursday, August 22, that Ukrainian forces had attempted to attack the nuclear power plant and that the matter had been reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The alleged attack, however, did not affect the operation of the plant. According to Reuters, the acting governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, said that the situation at the plant was "stable."

The Kyiv Independent reported that Rafael Grossi (pictured), head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, immediately announced his intention to travel to Kursk to visit the plant.

The Kursk nuclear power plant is in the middle of the Ukrainian offensive, in territory that Zelensky's troops are conquering with astonishing ease. In response, Putin is minimising the scope of Ukraine's advances and putting the nuclear plant on the table to alert the international community.

At the moment, Putin is taking his time in responding to the Kursk invasion. This, according to ABC, has managed to "test the patience" of some of his supporters in Russia. But the strategy is, for now, to ignore Ukraine's military successes.

The war has entered a new phase with the Ukrainian invasion of Kursk. It remains to be seen whether Moscow will respond militarily or whether Zelensky will be able to continue conquering Russian territory with little resistance.

Beyond Putin's propaganda about the danger facing the Soviet-made nuclear power plant, the truth is that Ukraine does not benefit from a catastrophe and it is likely that it will be careful not to damage the plant.

Kursk is a great success for Ukraine. After months without good news, Zelensky has managed to change the script of the war.

In any case, wars always have unexpected consequences and the nuclear danger is always present. A military error could have a tragic outcome at the Kursk nuclear power plant.

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