Significance of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuke power plant in Europe targetted by Russia

Zaporizhzhia is a city in south-eastern Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper. The strategically important city is known for its island of Khortytsia and Dnieper Hydroelectric Station. 

It is also an important industrial centre producing steel, aluminium, aircraft engines, automobiles, transformers for substations, and other heavy industrial goods. 

Zaporizhzhia NPP is a powerful electricity supplier in Ukraine. The plant generates 40-42 billion kWh which accounts for one fifth (20%) of the average annual electricity production in Ukraine and for almost 47% of electricity generated by Ukrainian NPPs.

The plant is located in the steppe zone of Ukraine, on the bank of the Kakhovka water reservoir. 

Zaporizhzhia NPP was built between 1984 and 1995 after it was decided in 1977 to construct it and in 1980, the stepwise construction of the plant power units was started. 

In the period from 1984 to 1987 four power units had been put into operation. Unit 5 was started up in 1989 and unit 6 – in 1995. 

A fire broke out in a training building outside Zaporizhzhia NPP during intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. 

However, Ukraine emergency services say they have extinguished a fire at Europe's largest nuclear power plant but it caused massive panic across the world. Kyiv blames Russian military shelling for the blaze. 

Russian forces have seized the largest nuclear power plant now. 

A video feed from the plant verified by news agencies showed heavy shelling and smoke rising near a building at the plant compound. 

According to a plant spokesperson, at least one reactor, which is under renovation and non-operational, was on fire. It contains nuclear fuel. Overall, the facility has six total reactors. 

Although, the emergency services in Ukraine extinguished the fire but the situation could the extent of the devastation is unimaginable if the situation would go awry. 

The attack on March 4 renewed fears that the invasion could result in damage to one of Ukraine's 15 nuclear reactors. 

It could trigger another emergency like the 1986 Chernobyl accident, the world's worst nuclear disaster. 

Ukraine's foreign minister said that if the nuclear plant blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chernobyl. 

There was no indication of elevated radiation levels at the plant, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said. 

The International Atomic Energy Agency said the Ukraine regulator told the agency that there was “no change reported in radiation levels at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant site”.

The UN's atomic watchdog urged Russian forces to stop attacking a Ukrainian nuclear power plant on Friday, warning of "severe danger" if the reactors were hit.

"IAEA Director General @RafaelMGrossi speaks with #Ukraine PM Denys Shmygal and with Ukrainian nuclear regulator and operator about serious situation at #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, appeals for halt of use of force and warns of severe danger if reactors hit," the International Atomic Energy Agency tweeted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Europe to prevent a "nuclear catastrophe". 

In a video uploaded to his Facebook account, Zelenskiy said that the Russian tanks were shooting at nuclear reactor blocks and said "only immediate action from Europe can stop the Russian troops."

He added, "Not a single state apart from Russia has ever shelled nuclear reactors. It is the first time in our history, in the history of humankind, that the terrorist state turned to nuclear terrorism." 

Comparing the possible consequences to the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, Zelenskiy said the whole of Europe would have to be evacuated in the event of an explosion at Zaporizhzhia. 

Russia has already captured the defunct Chernobyl plant, about 100 km north of Kyiv, which spewed radioactive waste over much of Europe when it melted down in 1986.