Explosion at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station could bring radiation across Europe, expert warns

Radiation could spread across western Ukraine and reach other European nations from the Zaporizhzhia power station in the event of an explosion, according to an expert in nuclear warfare.

Europe's largest power station, located in the southeast of Ukraine, is currently in Russian hands and Ukraine claims to have evidence that two of the reactor roofs have been mined by Russian forces.

This adds to growing fears that Moscow is planning to sabotage the power station.

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Hamish de Bretton-Gordon was former commander of the British Army's CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) Regiment and says the situation shows how desperate Russian president Vladimir Putin has become.

He said: "The Russian army failing at every juncture, and the (UK) Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Radakin talked about it earlier this week in the Defence Committee saying that the Russian army is pretty much defeated.

"You throw all that together and you can see why the Russians might try and use this as some kind of improvised nuclear device to halt the Ukrainian advance."

According to Ukraine, explosives have been placed on the roofs of two of the power station's reactors, although the six reactors at the station are protected by containment units built to withstand explosions.

Mr de Bretton-Gordon went on: "The reinforced concrete above the reactors is designed to take an aeroplane crashing into them, and artillery and missile strikes. That's exactly what they're designed for.

"So, an explosive, even a large explosive, is not likely to affect the integrity of the reactor.

"Other reports that have come out of Ukrainian intelligence, and elsewhere, is that the Russians have actually put explosives within the reactors.

"If they have done that then that is a real concern."

Some members of the US senate have called for any attack on the power plant to be declared an attack on Nato itself, due to the effects that would be felt across Europe.

The plant at Zaporizhzhia is twice the size of Chernobyl. Just a month ago, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka dam, causing an environmental disaster.

So what would be the effects if they did the same at Zaporizhzhia?

Mr de Bretton-Gordon added: "There are a number of assessments on Twitter and on the internet showing what we call the downwind hazard where the contamination might go.

"It is suggesting that it is going to cover quite a large bit of western Ukraine, west of Zaporizhzhia, then going up into Poland and possibly into Germany as well.

"How much really depends on how big the explosion, and how big the subsequent fire is," he said.

It has been reported that Russian staff and military personnel are moving away from the power station to Crimea, further fuelling speculation that an explosion is being planned.