Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Disaster (The Pearl World)

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Disaster refers to an attack on the Zaporzhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine by Russian Forces that occured as a result of Ukraine's counteroffensive in the Kherson and Zaporzhzhia Region
==Background==
200px|right|The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine
=== Russian Invasion of Ukraine ===
On February 21, 2022, Russian forces entered the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics beginning its invasion of Ukraine. The Russians and Ukraine fought a battle at the plant in March of 2022, with Russian forces ultimately seizing control of the plant and taking the Zaporzhizhia and Kherson oblasts.
=== Kherson Counteroffensive ===
In July of 2022, Ukraine began a massive counteroffensive in the Kherson region, using missile strikes to force the Russians to retreat. During the height of the counteroffensive, Russian forces began mining the Zaporzhzhia Plant in order to blackmail Ukraine and Europe into not responding any further. 
Ukrainian forces intensified their attacks, isolating the Russians in Kherson and forcing the Kremlin to make a decision, either withdraw from the region entirely, or hold on and push further,
Russia announced its decision to leave the Kherson Region on August 26, 2022, resulting in the withdrawal of combat power and allowing the Ukrainians to liberate the region with little bloodshed
== Disaster; Explosions at the Plant ==
On August 29, 2022, as the Russians had nearly completed their withdrawal from Kherson, the Russian military gave the order to detonate the plant. Explosions were heard at the plant at 4:00 AM Local time, and smoke was soon seen billowing from the Zaporzhzhia Plant. Russian forces crossed into Crimea before the Ukrainian fighters arrived in the vicinty. 
Damage to the plant's cooling systems led to a meltdown that released radiation into the atmosphere. Resulting in a humanitarian crisis. 
President Zelenskyy was notified of the strike at 5:00 AM Local Time, and ordered the immediate evacuation of the region. In the morning, thousands of Ukrainians were forced to evacuate in multiple parts of the country
President Biden was notified and immediately summoned his war cabinet, it appeared something bigger was going to come of it
== Investigations; Retaliation ==
The IAEA and Ukrainian authorities conducted an investigation of the plant, radiation cleaners find the shards of the detonated mines and it was clear the Russians were responsible for the disaster
Vladimir Putin had denounced this allegation, saying it was Ukraine who detonated the plant, and called on the Western nations to refrain from further esclation
The NATO Alliance held a meeting on August 17, 2022, making the decision to enact Article V of the NATO Charter, thus beginning the Third World War
Category:Scenario: The Pearl World