Europe's biggest nuclear plant a time bomb? Ukraine warns ‘Chernobyl 2.0’ as Russia pushes restart

Ukraine has warned that Russia lacks the equipment and technical systems needed to safely restart the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest atomic facility. Energoatom CEO Pavlo Kovtoniuk said key control, protection, and monitoring systems are Ukrainian-made, and without proper spare parts, operations could risk a nuclear accident, drawing comparisons to Chernobyl. He also cited insufficient cooling water after the 2023 destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. Seized by Russian forces early in the war, all six reactors remain shut. The plant’s future is now a major sticking point in U.S.-mediated peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.