A worrying factor in Ukraine’s chaos: 15 nuclear reactors

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/09/03/a-worrying-factor-in-ukraines-chaos-15-nuclear-reactors/

A worrying factor in Ukraine’s chaos: 15 nuclear reactors
By Rick Noack
September 3

Studies' Russia and Eurasia Program. NATO has already shown its concern, sending a small team of civilian experts to Ukraine in April to advise the government on the safety of its infrastructure.

There is a historical component to the anxiety: In April 1986, a reactor of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant at Chernobyl exploded, causing the worst nuclear disaster in history, and a high rate of cancer among emergency workers and people living in the affected areas even today. Chernobyl happened in a time of peace: Today, Ukraine's reactors operate near a war zone.

Closest to the fighting is Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Station, which houses six separate reactors:



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Chernobyl is on the Russian border.

Reactor #4 after explosion:



Reactor #4 after enclosing:




It appears 6 of the 15 reactors are in or near the contested areas. What could possibly go wrong?