Russian troops approaching another nuclear power plant. Just a day after the fires of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were extinguished, troops head for another plant. Yuzhnoukrainsk Nuclear Power Station in the Mykolaiv Oblast is the second-largest nuclear plant in Ukraine.
United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at the UN that the Russian troops are closing in. “Russian forces are now 20 miles, and closing, from Ukraine’s second-largest nuclear facility,” she said.
“President Putin must stop this humanitarian catastrophe by ending this war and ceasing these unconscionable attacks against the people of Ukraine,” the ambassador added.
The meltdown of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Powerplant was narrowly avoided. Now, the radiation levels remain normal and the fires were extinguished. Had they continued the bombing of the plant and hit the cooling pits, it could have been a meltdown.
“The international community must be unanimous in demanding Russia’s forces stop their dangerous assault. And as I’ve said before, the people of Ukraine are counting on us and we must not let them down,” she said.
Refugees
In the meantime, the United Nations reported that 1.2 million refugees have left Ukraine. 1,209,976 refugees are currently in Poland. Others have fled to neighboring countries Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, and Romania.
UN expects additional refugees to leave within the week as the bombardment continues. Countries have offered refugee visas for the Ukrainians fleeing the country.
In the next few days, Russia could send additional mercenaries to bombard cities into submission. Western intelligence officials warned that there are “some indications” that mercenaries could be involved. “We’ve seen some indications that they’re being employed,” the official said.
“The days to come are likely to be worse, with more death, more suffering, and more destruction, as the Russian armed forces bring in heavier weaponry and continue their attacks across the country,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.