Putin may blow up Zaporizhzhia NPP: experts warn of the threat of a “dirty bomb” for Europe

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin may resort to nuclear terror in the event of a defeat on the battlefield. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, captured by the Russian army, could be used as a “dirty bomb.” The consequences of such a scenario could be catastrophic not only for Ukraine, but also for all of Europe – including Russia itself.

This is reported by Forbes .

Simon Bennett, a British expert from the University of Leicester, said that the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia NPP — the largest nuclear power plant in Europe — has remained one of the key levers of blackmail that Russia uses against the West since the start of the full-scale war. Putin could order the plant to be mined in order to carry out a nuclear-scale explosion in the event of his defeat, without using strategic nuclear weapons.

Bennett believes that in a worst-case scenario, each of the six reactors at the ZNPP could be remotely detonated . This would lead to a large-scale release of radioactive materials that would spread across Europe, similar to the Chernobyl accident in 1986. At that time, radioactive clouds even reached the UK.

Despite external cynicism, such an act of nuclear blackmail could hit Russia itself, the expert notes. In conditions of constant westerly winds, radioactive contamination could easily reach Russian regions, making such a scenario extremely risky for the Kremlin as well.

Bennett also warned that Russian operations at nuclear power plants in Ukraine could be a rehearsal for future sabotage in NATO countries. In particular, he said, the Kremlin could involve “sleeper agents” in critical Western infrastructure who, on orders, would resort to nuclear provocations or sabotage.

“This is more than a fear tactic. This is a demonstration of a willingness to destroy the international security system at any cost,” Bennett stressed.

Earlier, Russian occupiers struck a power line connecting the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP with the unified power system of Ukraine.

As a reminder, in May, as a result of enemy shelling , the temporarily occupied Zapadnaya NPP lost power to one of its two power supply lines and was under threat of a blackout.

By the way, Ukraine demands that the IAEA leadership take a clear position on the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and not contribute to the legitimization of Russian control over the plant.

It is worth noting that the US has offered to take over the management of Ukrainian nuclear power plants if this helps end the Russian-Ukrainian war.

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