Fire At Ukraine Science Site With Nuclear Reactor Following Russian Missile Strike

A fire has broken out at Ukrainian science site, which houses a nuclear reactor.

In footage shared online, flames can be seen coming from the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology in the city of Kharkov.

Russia has just attacked the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology. There is an experimental nuclear reactor there. A nearby dormitory is also on fire. Personnel staying in the shelter, shelling continues. Russia systematically attacks nuclear facilities in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/pj2ysMubzW

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 10, 2022

It is the second time the site has been hit by Russian missiles this week, with the most recent shelling happening shortly before 8.30pm local time, Pravda reports. 

The State Emergency Service reported they went to put out the fire on the fifth floor of the dormitory at 19 Valtera Street at 8.35pm, and found that six rooms were on fire at the time. Early reports indicated there were no casualties.

Following the first attack earlier this week, Ukrainian officials said the institute has a nuclear research facility with 37 nuclear fuel cells.

Ukraine’s national security service first reported that Russian forces were firing rockets at the facility on Sunday (7 March), warning that it could prompt a ‘large-scale ecological disaster’.

Ukraine's Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security posted on Twitter in response to the recent fire: "In Kharkiv, eyewitnesses report a fire in the building of Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology.

"The building contains equipment which, if damaged, can lead to radioactive pollution of the environment."

However, it’s believed any potential risk to the public about radiation exposure is low. 

Harvard proliferation researcher Matthew Bunn commented earlier this week to say that the risk of widespread radiation contamination is ‘nearly zero’, due to the ‘subcritical nature of the facility’. 

He also said the building contains no highly enriched uranium.

He went on to say: “The danger is from bullets and bombs, not from radiation from this facility.”

Bunn explained that the facility is ‘accelerator-driven subcritical assembly and not a critical nuclear reactor’, which means it cannot ‘sustain a chain reaction without neutrons from the accelerator’. 

Last week, ​​Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said nuclear facilities ‘cannot become part of this conflict’. 

She said: “Reliable electricity is vital for the nuclear facility, as are back-up diesel generators and fuel. Safe transit corridors must be maintained.

“Russia must halt any further use of force that might put at further risk all 15 operable reactors across Ukraine – or interfere with Ukraine’s ability to maintain the safety and security of its 37 nuclear facilities and their surrounding populations.”

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.