Some people are trying to make sense of this take, but no matter how hard they try, no one can reconcile how the Chernobyl nuclear power plant powers central North Ukraine and that’s what makes it a valuable target for Vladimir Putin. It all started with this story from the Associated Press and picked up by Bloomberg:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant https://t.co/azrqOj3kTU
— Sarah Muller (@digimuller) February 24, 2022
The AP reports:
Ukrainian officials said their forces were battling Russians on multiple fronts, had suffered dozens of deaths and had lost control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant, scene of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
…
Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-unused Chernobyl plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce battle, presidential adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press.
The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said it was told by Ukraine of the takeover, adding that there had been “no casualties or destruction at the industrial site.”
The 1986 disaster occurred when a nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Kyiv exploded, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe. The damaged reactor was later covered by a protective shell to prevent leaks.
In a now-deleted tweet, someone asked what Putin wanted with Chernobyl, to which long-time U.S. intelligence expert Malcolm Nance had this to say:
Recommended
https://twitter.com/MalcolmNance/status/1496879989223944193
One of MSNBC's "senior analysts" pic.twitter.com/NCnz03Tj2E
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) February 24, 2022
He must be joking right? He must know…
— Matthew S (@MattyBoySwag143) February 24, 2022
— Rabies (@hellorabies) February 24, 2022
lmao.. pic.twitter.com/dvxL5YWNI8
— James Deluca (@JamesDe28271954) February 24, 2022
I'm so happy they got that place up and running again. Freaking dipstick.
— Karl (@karl1711) February 24, 2022
Jesus H Christ. pic.twitter.com/WrykAbtraX
— WY (@WYtrades) February 24, 2022
I am deceased. Please send flowers to my family.
— Let's Go Brandon! (@GulagFrog) February 24, 2022
— John Foxall (@Foxall88) February 24, 2022
This is another "Guam is going to tip over" moment
— Mutha Trucker UNVAXXED AF 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@BrianEck9) February 24, 2022
— nomadswife6973 (@nomadswife6973) February 24, 2022
— 🇺🇸 Sean Truax 🌻🇺🇦 (@redlegtigger) February 24, 2022
"Intel expert" says what?
What year do you think this is?
— J.G. Petruna (@jgpetruna) February 24, 2022
The fact that you get paid handsomely to offer your expert commentary is one of the most potent arguments against capitalism I've ever seen.
— Michael Garner (@MikeGarner9) February 24, 2022
You were 25 years old in 1986. How the fuck does this tweet exist?
— Eric Spencer (@JustEric) February 24, 2022
You dropped this: pic.twitter.com/1TS4epUPmS
— Mardi Gras Queen🌻🇺🇦🌻🇺🇦 Ми всі українці (@redandright) February 24, 2022
Please don’t delete this.
— Max (@MaxNordau) February 24, 2022
It's literally been out of commission for 22 years.
— Dwight K Schrute (@DwightKSchruteA) February 24, 2022
The 1980s called, they want Malcolm Nance’s draft tweets back
— Thor Svensonn (@thorsvensonn) February 24, 2022
I must have my calendar wrong, mine says 2022 but apparently it’s 1982.
— Connor Will (@NascarConnor12) February 24, 2022
My favorite part is this was six hours ago and it's still up. Maybe he's watching some summary screen showing this tweet is getting great engagement.
The sad part is he obviously has no friends that will pick up the phone and tell him.
— Marc Pear (@marc_pear) February 24, 2022
The fact that this dude hasn’t deleted this tweet yet is insane.
— Space Mutiny (@MutinySpace) February 24, 2022
Decomissioned in 2000.
Russia wants it because no one would dare shell or attack it.
— Rob Smithson (@RobSmithson6) February 24, 2022
C'mon Man! @MalcolmNance did get 29 likes for this exceptional tweet. Gotta respect that. That's it, that's all I got.
— *My*World* Blue Check (@Dbax1fan) February 24, 2022
Putin certainly has his reasons, but we don’t think this is one of them.
Related:
Blue-check whose BIGGEST accomplishment was Trump blocking her TRIPS over old tweet ‘thanking’ Biden for not starting a World War https://t.co/HDCL6z6DXx
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 24, 2022
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