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Russia attacking a nuclear power plant in Ukraine in the middle of the night, the information plunged the world into dread on Friday March 4. An action deemed irresponsible by Westerners. What do we know about this attack on the central Zaporizhiawhich has six nuclear reactors?
In the heart of the Ukrainian night, bombardments and explosions. On the night of Thursday March 3 to Friday March 4, Russian tank fire hit the installation of Zaporizhiathe largest nuclear power plant in Europe, causing a fire. The plant’s spokesperson makes an emergency call. For long minutes, Ukrainian firefighters are blocked by Russian troops, before finally being able to access the site. President Volodymir Zelensky accuses Vladimir Putin of resorting to nuclear terror.
But on Friday, March 4, the news was reassuring. None of the plant’s six reactors was hit. To justify the attack on the plant, the spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense claims that the army has only responded to what he calls “a Ukrainian provocation“. For General Vincent Doorsprofessor of strategy at Sciences Po and HEC, Vladimir Poutine pursues a very specific goal: “This is to produce a psychological effect on the Ukrainian people“. The Russian army now occupies the largest nuclear installation in Europe.