The Atlantic has an alarming piece about the deeply unsettling state of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. The ZNPP, Europe’s big boy on the nuclear block, nestled in Enerhodar, Ukraine, used to be the life of the party, electrifying everything from Hungary to Romania. Then Russia, during their 2022 tour of Ukraine, decided it was time to take over, quickly dubbed it “Rosatom’s pet project,” sidelining the original staff and holding the employees hostage. The once buzzing hub is now a shadow of its past, operating under the coercive embrace of Rosatom, with a skeleton crew running on caffeine and desperation. This crew navigates a work environment where Russian citizenship is the unwelcome bonus and torture is the new team-building exercise.The international community, led by the IAEA, watches from the sidelines, issuing reports and warnings with all the potency of a UN resolution. Meanwhile, the plant has morphed into a military base with the potential for a catastrophic event that could make Chernobyl look like a minor oopsie. The Zaporizhzhia staff are the unsung heroes, keeping the place from turning into an environmental disaster movie set. It’s a blend of absurdity, bravery, and a stark reminder that in the game of nuclear power plant occupation, common sense is often the first casualty. So, stock up on your iodine and let’s see how this plays out.
