Nuclear worries in Ukraine, deadly Israel strike, and 2024 hurricanes

Tipping Point Quick Hits (04.11.24)

UN Nuclear Watchdog Emergency Meeting

The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called an emergency meeting today at the request of both Russia and Ukraine. On the agenda is the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is located in southern Ukraine but has been controlled by Russia since Putin’s forces invaded in 2022.

It is the largest nuclear power station in Europe—located just 300 miles from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster site—and requires constant power to keep the reactors cool enough to prevent a “potentially catastrophic meltdown,” according to Reuters.

Drones struck one reactor building at the facility on Sunday. Both Ukraine and Russia have accused the other of launching the drone strikes. Kyiv says the attacks were staged by Moscow. Moscow says Ukraine is the one attacking.

Both Russia and Ukraine have representatives on the IAEA board, which is the watchdog’s top decision-making body.