Kathrine Frich
According to Bennett, Russia could have already mined the facility.
According to Bennett, Russia could have already mined the facility.
A Chilling Warning from a British Expert
A British nuclear safety expert has issued a stark warning: Russia may be prepared to destroy the Zaporozhye nuclear plant if it loses the war in Ukraine.
The facility, Europe’s largest, could become a radioactive weapon in what some are calling “atomic blackmail.”
Meet the Man Raising the Alarm
Simon Bennett, a researcher at the University of Leicester and author of Atomic Blackmail?, believes the Russian military’s control of the plant is no accident.
He says it’s a strategic move with devastating potential and a warning to Europe.
Six Reactors and Dangerous Leverage
Located in southeastern Ukraine, the Zaporozhye plant contains six reactors, with enough output to power countries like Ireland or Finland for a year.
In the wrong hands, it becomes a geopolitical time bomb.
What Happens If Russia Detonates the Plant?
According to Bennett, Russia could have already mined the facility.
If defeat appears imminent, they might opt for a controlled detonation, releasing vast amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere, with effects seen far beyond Ukraine.
Chernobyl All Over Again?
Bennett points to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster as a grim precedent.
Winds carried radiation across Europe, contaminating farmland and ecosystems.
A repeat, he warns, would be catastrophic and very possible.
The Fallout Could Hit Russia, Too
Ironically, Russia wouldn’t escape unscathed.
If the wind direction is wrong, central areas of the Russian Federation could suffer severe fallout from its own detonation, a nuclear own goal on an unimaginable scale.
Nuclear Blackmail on a Continental Scale
This isn’t just a wartime scare tactic.
Bennett argues the occupation of Zaporozhye is part of a calculated Russian strategy to hold Europe hostage through nuclear terror, without launching a single missile.
Sleeper Agents and Future Wars
Looking ahead, Bennett fears this kind of nuclear brinkmanship could be replicated elsewhere.
He warns Russia may already have agents in Western countries positioned to sabotage critical infrastructure in future conflicts.
The Long War: No Sign of Putin Backing Down
Despite escalating sanctions and battlefield setbacks, Putin shows no sign of backing down.
Analysts say he’s increasingly reliant on unconventional warfare and willing to raise the stakes as the war drags on.
