# Europe's largest nuclear power plant on fire {Fire is Out but now in Russian Control} **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2022, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europes-largest-nuclear-power-plant-on-fire-fire-is-out-but-now-in-russian-control/960436 "2022-03-04T01:34:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europes-largest-nuclear-power-plant-on-fire-fire-is-out-but-now-in-russian-control/960436/21 "2022-03-04T15:54:49Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > If the safety systems fail because they were not designed to withstand shelling by artillery (because nobody thought anyone would be so incredibly stupid to fire heavy artillery at a working nuclear plant), then it could potentially release very large amounts of radioactive material, potentially 10 times more than Cherynoble. As a general rule nuclear power plants are housed in containment buildings that are engineered to withstand something like an airliner accidentally colliding with them. Artillery shells are unlikely to get to the reactor itself. Outbuildings and such though - they would be vulnerable. I’m coming into this thread some time after it started so the situation seems to be under control, no radiation released, but there are reports the plant personnel are now working with Russian soldiers “guarding” them. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europes-largest-nuclear-power-plant-on-fire-fire-is-out-but-now-in-russian-control/960436/22 "2022-03-04T21:01:03Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > If the safety systems fail because they were not designed to withstand shelling by artillery (because nobody thought anyone would be so incredibly stupid to fire heavy artillery at a working nuclear plant), then it could potentially release very large amounts of radioactive material, potentially 10 times more than Cherynoble. Sure, but who builds nuclear plants that aren’t designed to withstand attack? > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > A review of the Japanese nuclear power industry gives pause for the notion that nuclear fission power is as absolutely safe as advocates claim even if you dismiss the Chernobyl and Fukushima INES Level 7 events as being statistical flukes. If you don’t dismiss Fukushima as a statistical fluke, then you realize that even in a major earthquake and the largest tsunami in recorded history, the plant suffered what was by any objective measure only a very minor failure, and very nearly didn’t fail at all, while every other piece of infrastructure that faced the same earthquake and tsunami failed much more drastically. Fukushima is proof that nuclear power is safe, not that it’s dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europes-largest-nuclear-power-plant-on-fire-fire-is-out-but-now-in-russian-control/960436/23 "2022-03-04T21:47:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Sure, but who builds nuclear plants that aren’t designed to withstand attack? The Russians? Or was Chernobyl only designed to withstand and external attacks and blowing up from the inside was unforeseen bad luck? Then again, Chernobyl didn’t have a containment building, either. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europes-largest-nuclear-power-plant-on-fire-fire-is-out-but-now-in-russian-control/960436/24 "2022-03-04T21:48:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If you don’t dismiss Fukushima as a statistical fluke, then you realize that even in a major earthquake and the largest tsunami in recorded history, the plant suffered what was by any objective measure only a very minor failure, and very nearly didn’t fail at all, while every other piece of infrastructure that faced the same earthquake and tsunami failed much more drastically. Fukushima is proof that nuclear power is safe, not that it’s dangerous. The critical failure at Fukushima was not providing a back up power source for cooling resistant to flooding from a tsunami (not that anyone anticipate that big a tsunami - there was a protective sea wall but it wasn’t high enough). The plants did, in fact, shut down automatically in response to an earthquake as intended. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europes-largest-nuclear-power-plant-on-fire-fire-is-out-but-now-in-russian-control/960436/25 "2022-03-04T21:58:31Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If you don’t dismiss Fukushima as a statistical fluke, then you realize that even in a major earthquake and the largest tsunami in recorded history, the plant suffered what was by any objective measure only a very minor failure, and very nearly didn’t fail at all, while every other piece of infrastructure that faced the same earthquake and tsunami failed much more drastically. Fukushima is proof that nuclear power is safe, not that it’s dangerous. The problems in the Japanese nuclear power industry long predate the unanticipated tsunami that was fortunate to only affect a plant that released radiation out to ocean (notwithstanding the initial attempt at downplaying the severity and poor management of the problem), and despite the effort put into ensuring the safety of conventional boiling water and pressurized water nuclear fission plants, a single severe criticality accident or large release of radioactive material can cost far more than the no inal lifetime value of the plant, notwithstanding subsidized costs of waste storage and disposal and the environmental impacts of uranium mining. There is a persuasive need to improve nuclear fission power production technology to reduce waste, improve fuel element utilization vice the current once-through fuel cycle, and enhance passive safety not reliant upon training and safety discipline of human workers. A brief review of significant accidents in the Japanese nuclear power industry and Tepco: > **[Japanese utility to shut reactor after admitting accident cover-up (Published...](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/business/worldbusiness/15iht-nuke.4924774.html)** > **[Tokaimura Criticality Accident - World Nuclear Association](https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/tokaimura-criticality-accident.aspx)** > > In 1999 three workers received high doses of radiation in a small Japanese plant preparing fuel for an experimental reactor. The accident was caused by bringing together too much uranium enriched to a relatively high level, causing a criticality ... > **[Japan's nuclear industry in malaise – DW – 06/12/2017](https://www.dw.com/en/japans-nuclear-mishap-underlines-industry-malaise/a-39209569)** > > Japan's nuclear energy sector is riven by poor management, is overly bureaucratic and staffed by people who no longer have any pride in their jobs. So accidents are inevitable, say critics. Julian Ryall reports. [https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/03/06/why-fukushima-was-preventable-pub-47361](https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/03/06/why-fukushima-was-preventable-pub-47361) Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europes-largest-nuclear-power-plant-on-fire-fire-is-out-but-now-in-russian-control/960436.md?page=1)