It is difficult to interpret the video at the scene, but a string of flashing lights consistent with those on civilian emergency vehicles approached the plant roughly 20 minutes ago. After pausing at the plant entrance for an extended period, the group appeared to turn back, retreating along the same path they approached from even as arms fire could be seen targeting the building on fire. One possible interpretation of the video is that emergency vehicles dispatched to combat the plant fires were refused access and turned away.

Reports that radiation levels are up in the area are unlikely to be from direct damage to the reactor. However, there have been a lot of explosions and a fire in an area where there has to be low level of radioactive particles in the background. All that stuff is now in the air.

The same increase in radiation was noted when Russia was fighting in the area near Chernobyl. Decades of fine particles settle over an area. Then you shake it up with explosives and set parts of it on fire—radiation is going to increase, even if the reactor is fine.

Two of the six reactors at Zaporizhzhia were shut down a few days ago. Presumably those reactors were safed. Which leaves, of course, four nuclear reactors controlled by a control room that has spent the last hour burning.

But really, these reactors should be inherently safe. That is, safe from a failure of control. Damage to the cores themselves and (insert scary shrug).

There is also a good deal of low and medium level waste stored at the site, as well as spent fuel. None of that needs to be scattered around by an explosion.

The live stream from the site is no longer operating, and seems to be staying that way. It has also dropped out of rotation on the four-camera view.

CNBC is indicating that firefighters have been able to get to the facility, and that the fire was in a backup control room used for training.

Let’s hope all of that is correct. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issues an emergency address. 

It’s in Ukrainian, so … waiting for a translation.

Zelenskyy appears to be warning about the possibility of a radiation incident that could affect much of Europe. “You know the word Chernobyl,” he says.

I can think of no way in which this attack makes sense. If Russia wanted to cut off the power from the plant, they could take down the high voltage lines miles from the plant itself. The plant is out of the way, controlling it doesn’t give them better control of the area, or control of any important corridor.

It makes no sense. Why would someone attack a nuclear power plant? Why take even a slight chance? 

There is just no valid military objective in doing this. None.

We just witnessed people having a firefight in a nuclear plant while at least one control room was burning and after multiple bombs had hit reactor structures. I’m still trying to make that sound like something that actually happened in the real world.

Still waiting for a full translation of Zelenskyy’s speech. Post it if you got it.