Will Putin Blow Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station Next Week?

[RavVid]

Putin didn't have any qualms blowing the Nova Kakhovka dam recently and it is pretty clear it was blown by stacking explosives in an access tunnel under Russian control.

With the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power station Ukraine is saying that Russia is withdrawing troops and told workers to get out in 5 days and to go to Crimea. Russia had no concerns with disrupting cooling water for those nuclear reactors by blowing the dam.

The get out in 5 days order is particularly concerning to me. If Russia intended to keep Zaporizhzhia safe than you would expect workers would be required to ensure that. Reputedly Russia has mined cooling water plant and has trucks loaded with explosives around the nuclear reactors. Mostly the reactors are shut down but the last I heard one was still on hot standby at about 200 Celsius. While it won't be a nuclear explosion we can expect a nuclear contamination cloud like Chernobyl.

As with Nova Kakhovka, there would be Russian claims that it was the Ukranians.

Too complicated for a poll but I would like your opinions around these aspects and why you think what you do.

* Putin will happily blow it to shut down Ukraine's offensive

* It is Ukraine disinformation. Mr Putin would never do this

* How should NATO respond if a nuclear cloud blows over Europe? An article 5 military response and direct strikes on Russian troops in Ukraine?

* Can we dissuade Putin from even thinking about it. Make it clear it will trigger article 5 responses.

* Anything else

[jshm2]

Don't be silly.

There is little evidence of Russia being involved in the dam issue. Also nuclear meltdowns are no joke.

All three sides are using propoganda. They know that whoever wins needs to fight China next

[AngryCarl2]

It's possible but I don't understand the rationale behind it. I don't see how turning Ukraine into a nuclear wasteland serves Putin's long term interests.

[RavVid]

Possibly in two ways.

Catherine the Great said the only way she could secure her borders was to expand her borders. That is Russia is largely open plains without major natural obstacles but the Carpathian mountains to the west of Ukraine are a stopping point. Having a nice nuclear wasteland could be advantageous if you were worried about a new Napoleon or the IV Reich invading.

It would be a substantial degradation of Ukraine who were the 4th largest arms supplier circa 2014 and making good stuff. China got its first aircraft carrier from them. Eliminating Ukraine as a wheat supplier would be commercial bonus and geopol bonus for Russia. Plus there are petroleum reserves off shore Ukraine which won't be developed so that will be a commercial and geopol gain.

'Defy mother Russia and see what happens to you' would presumably give satisfying emotions.

Not that I have any insight.

[Juxtapose]

It was the Americans who blew up the pipeline and they are likely engaging in other sabotage efforts to discredit Russia.

[John_Doesnt]

Putin is a scared little turd who will be begging the US for asylum any day now.

[SteveMutphy]

Probably, and you can thank Biden for that.

[chicken_nugget24]

I hope not but anything is possible :/

[Anonymous]

You mean will the Ukrainians?