What to know about Ukraine’s nuclear sites and the risks the Russian invasion could pose

Russian forces have taken control of the site, among other advances as Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine stretches into its second week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of “nuclear terror.” Zelensky and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv said an attack on a nuclear power plant could constitute a war crime.

What are war crimes — and could Russia be committing them in Ukraine?

The United States activated its nuclear-incident response team after the incident. At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Friday, the U.S. and allies lambasted Russia for the shelling and seizure of the plant.

“The world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Moscow’s ambassador to the United Nations told the Security Council Friday that Russia had not fired on the plant, calling this claim “false information.”

Ukraine relies heavily on nuclear energy — its 15 functional reactors, situated in four power stations, provide about half of the country’s electricity. It was also the site of a 1986 nuclear meltdown that sent a radioactive cloud over Europe. The specter of the Chernobyl disaster has loomed large amid fighting near nuclear reactors in recent days.

Russian forces seize Ukrainian nuclear power plant after shelling sets it on fire

During a news briefing Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the country was “taking every measure” to maintain the safety of the Zaporizhzhia plant as well as the abandoned Chernobyl plant.

Here’s what to know about Ukraine’s nuclear sites and what risks fighting around them could pose.

What to know