This text does not minimize the threat from the Russian Federation and the blackmail that Putin may use to keep Crimea and the seized territories of the Ukrainian south. When the operating reactor of the Zaporizhzhia NPP remains in the hands of the occupying Russian forces, and the former Rosatom topman Sergey Kiriyenko is overseeing the mining of the cooling water pond, the threat is more than serious.
However, let's analyze where exactly Biden made the statement about tactical weapons and to whom. On June 19, Joe Biden met with campaign donors in California. This is an important nuance because the presidential election has actually begun in the United States. And in this way, Biden sent a signal to potential donors to the Democratic Party that we will not allow Putin to throw nuclear weapons. This was in reference to the statements by Russian Sergei Shoigu and Belarusian Viktor Khrenin about the deployment of Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus. Everything is logical - the Democrats' sponsors asked, and Biden gave a clear answer.
“Why Mr. Biden responded in this style is that fear sells best in politics. That's why the leader of the Democratic Party promised the old money that we are the guarantor that you will live without atomic bombs and radiation. So give money to our election campaign.”
But what Ukrainians should be afraid of is not nuclear weapons, but possible new disasters and ecocides that Russia can implement.
What should we pay attention to? The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, appeared on the air of the Ukrainian media again and made a statement that is very important to pay attention to. Namely, that the Russian troops mined not only the Zaporizhzhia NPP, but also a cooling pond.
A little earlier, Energoatom explained that the Russians could blow up the stoplog gate – the gate shield that opens to release water – and pour all the dirt from the pond into the Kakhovka reservoir. Moreover, since last fall, Putin has hinted several times at a 'dirty bomb' and ZNPP in the same sentence.
The Russian plan is as simple as possible – to stall for time and get us into some kind of disadvantageous truce. When China's peace plans didn't work, and six African leaders got only a few hours in Kyiv to sit in a bomb shelter, the Russians returned to their favorite topic: scaring the world with a nuclear threat. And they will demand to legalize the piece of Ukraine they have taken away.
“Fear within Ukraine and in the West is the main goal of the Russians. Therefore, expect a lot of nuclear threats, blackmail and promises to disrupt everything here and arrange Fukushima with Chornobyl 2.0. Especially in unison with the first victories of our Armed Forces on the Zaporizhzhia frontline.”
Therefore, it can be stated that the level of the question of whether the Russians will blow up something nuclear here has already gone far beyond Ukraine. Far beyond the level of the IAEA with Rafael Grossi, who has been working with Russia's Rosatom for quite a long time and with high quality. And they would obviously have continued to dust their eyes if the Russian army had not started using the ZNPP for military blackmail.
I think it's time for our president to turn on the quality communicator mode and convey to the Western world, as Biden did to his own sponsors, that the Russians want to make a 'dirty bomb' out of the ZNPP. And if they do, it should be tantamount to using nuclear weapons.
The only thing that is holding back the invading Russian forces so far is that they, like all animals, realize that causing a disaster at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant is one story. But to arrange a second Chornobyl for Europe with radiation is a very painful point. This is the last trump card and it cannot be put on the table.
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“What does this have to do with the United States and Biden? Joseph Biden has made his name and career on opposing the proliferation of nuclear weapons in countries where they should not exist. And likewise, for a nuclear-armed country to threaten a non-nuclear-armed country because it wants to. It is quite possible that putting a humble nuclear shirt on Russia will be the crown of his life and profession.”
We can be quite sure that Antony Blinken traveled to China for a very good reason. So, it is quite possible that Xi Jinping conveyed to his Russian friends why waving nuclear bombs is not an option.
The more victories our army wins, the more videos appear of our special forces meeting uninvited guests on our land with fire and sword, the more talk of nuclear strikes. There will be more cries from Solovyovs and Mardans about how radiation should be released on Warsaw, London, and Paris.
Our task is to withstand this blackmail with honor and dignity, with respect for the Armed Forces. And to wait for the time when Russia exchanges its nuclear button for a plate of rice.
The fact is that after the war crime at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, the invaders are constantly looking for opportunities to intimidate our society, create disorder and break support for the counteroffensive. However, neither fake news about the military nor threats of chemical danger and “oh, there will be no electricity again” worked. The reality is that we are moving towards our goals, including the military, like a skating rink. Therefore, when there are not enough arguments, Moscow pulls out the horror stories about nuclear weapons.
Specially for Espreso
About the author. Maryna Danyliuk-Yarmolaieva, journalist.
The editors don't always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.