Part 1: The Occupation (Feb–Mar 2022)
Russian forces approach and seize Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
51 tweets in this section.
February 2022
[2022-02-27]
Enerhodar (Zaporozhzhia) is where the largest ☢️nuclear power plant in Europe is: “A large convoy of occupation equipment from the Kherson region arrived close to the town of Enerhodar & settled down for the night in the village of Velyka Bilozerka…”
[2022-02-27]
@DmitryOpines Zap governor: “…Fuel is running out & the occupiers began to squeeze diesel from farmers…” Though, the occupiers have taken positions by the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
[2022-02-27]
@UmlandAndreas “A large convoy of occupation equipment from the Kherson region arrived close to the town of Enerhodar & settled down for the night in the village of Velyka Bilozerka…”
[2022-02-27]
“Enemy equipment near Enerhodar [largest nuclear power plant in Europe] … the situation remains difficult. Small sabotage groups are already working in the city trying to break thru to the facilities.” USSR bombed a dam there in WWII that killed 100,000 Ukrainians.
March 2022
[2022-03-02]
Residents hold back Russian forces from Enerhodar, site of the largest nuclear power plant. In WWII, near Enerhodar, Soviets exploded a dam. Killed 100,000+ Ukrainians. Why? To save those same Ukrainians from being killed by Nazis.
[2022-03-02]
@LauriAlmann @IlvesToomas Note that any shelling or nuclear accident at Enerhodar is a problem for ALL Black Sea nations. Dniepr river will carry radiation quickly downstream. Russians bombed the dam Ukraine built in 2014 to stop Dniepr’s water reaching Ukraine’s occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
[2022-03-02]
“Russian forces have taken control of the area around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to the UN’s nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi.”
[2022-03-02]
@OlgaNYC1211 Any shelling or nuclear accident at Enerhodar or Kamianske (60m tonnes of nuclear waste) is a problem for ALL Black Sea nations. Dniepr river will carry radiation quickly downstream. 🇷🇺 bombed the dam 🇺🇦 built in 2014 to stop Dniepr’s water reaching 🇺🇦‘s occupied Crimea.
[2022-03-02]
@MFA_Ukraine Any shelling or nuclear accident at Enerhodar or Kamianske (60m tonnes of nuclear waste) is a problem for ALL Black Sea nations. Dniepr river will carry radiation quickly downstream. 🇷🇺 bombed the dam 🇺🇦 built in 2014 to stop Dniepr’s water reaching 🇺🇦‘s occupied Crimea.
[2022-03-02]
@donnaZ8231 @OlgaNYC1211 Agreed. 🇷🇺 forces taken Chernobyl - why? Trying to take Enerhodar, & Rubizhne: heaps of nuclear stuff. If the ~60m tonnes of nuclear waste stored on the surface 100m from Dniper at Kamianske falls into enemy hands… Holds the whole of the Black Sea & Europe hostage. @DrEricDing
[2022-03-02]
@andersostlund Turkey, Romania & Bulgaria, Black Sea nations, need to persuade NATO NOW to prevent Russian forces capturing more nuclear facilities. Any nuclear pollution of Dniepr from Chernobyl, Kamianske, Enerhodar or Kirivohrad/Zhovte Voda uranium will impact ALL Europe. @EuromaidanPress
[2022-03-03]
☢️ Human Shield: Ukrainians’ protecting Enerhodar ☢️ power plant from Russian forces. Enerhodar is the LARGEST ☢️ power plant in Europe. If it goes, nuclear waste will make a part of Europe, including the Black Sea & Crimea uninhabitable: @MFATurkiye
[2022-03-03]
☢️Human Shield☢️”#russians started shooting at people but they continue to stay there. They know the price is too high, not just for Ukraine, but for the rest of Europe.” Any nuclear pollution of Dniepr from Enerhodar will flow into the Black Sea. (
[2022-03-03]
@HIGarrettHughes 🇷🇺 even blew up the dam the other day that connects the Dniepr River (which flows by ☢️Enerhodar) to occupied Crimea. This means if 🇷🇺 blow up or strike Enerhodar, they’ll also spoil the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, as well as Black Sea. @MFATurkiye @romaniaineu @MFABulgaria
[2022-03-04]
Here’s my friend & brother mayor Dmitry Orlov BEGGING the Russians to stop shelling the nuclear power plant in his town. Black Sea nations invoke NATO Article 5 intervention over the existential threat to Black Sea. 🇷🇺 targeting 3 nuclear sites on Dnipr:
[2022-03-04]
@UKRintheUSA @UKRINFORM @MFATurkiye @MAERomania @MFABulgaria PROTECT 🇺🇦, please: 🇷🇺 targeting nuclear installations on Dnipr River which flows into the Black Sea. Mayor Kurlov of Enerhodar, site of Europe’s largest ☢️ plant in happier times AND today pleading for shelling to stop.
[2022-03-04]
“You can expect anything from those barbarians - the head of the OVA on the defense of Zaporozhye & the threat to ☢️nuclear power plants.” During WWII Soviet forces bombed that very dam 👇🏽. At least 100,000 Ukrainians drowned. Purpose? To stop the Nazis killing Ukrainians.
[2022-03-04]
🆘 Calling ELECTED leaders Everywhere🆘 This👇🏽 is YOU. May ‘21: YOU are 🇺🇦Mayor Orlov, relaxed, speaking to the @OSCE @usosce. Now: YOU are pleading for the bombing of Zaporizhzhia’s ☢️ power plant to stop. There are 10,000+ YOUs in 🇺🇦. PLEASE retweet.
[2022-03-04]
@oliveblogs I can assure you that the threat is real. Unlike many of those now commenting (most of whom are anti-mask), I’ve actually visited Chernobyl, Enerhodar & a site storing ~60m tonnes of radioactive waste some 100m from the Dniepr, which flows into the Black Sea.
[2022-03-04]
@MFA_Ukraine Turkey, Romania & Bulgaria, Black Sea nations, need to persuade NATO NOW to prevent Russian forces capturing more nuclear facilities. Any nuclear pollution of Dniepr from Chernobyl, Kamianske, Enerhodar or Kirivohrad/Zhovte Voda uranium will impact ALL Europe.
[2022-03-08]
I’m delighted to see President Zelenskii has honoured my friend the mayor of Enerhodar, whose ☢️ power station 🇷🇺 has occupied. Take a look at how Mayor Orlov looked when he and I last spoke. Now, compare how he was as he begged Russian forces to stop shelling the ☢️ plant:
[2022-03-11]
“Literally: “According to available information, Putin has ordered preparation of a terrorist attack at Chornobyl. Russian-controlled Chornobyl nuclear power plant will create a catastrophe, for which the occupiers will try to shift responsibility to Ukraine…” 2/5
[2022-03-11]
“According to available Ukrainian intelligence, the Russians are collecting the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers to take them to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and show them as “killed saboteurs of Ukraine” for propaganda.” 5/5
[2022-03-11]
In 2014 🇷🇺 stole a mobile phone (Crimea), without a charger (freshwater). 🇺🇦 blocked the canal that sent freshwater from Dniper river into Crimea. Last week 🇷🇺 exploded the dam. The mobile isn’t charging. Chornobyl, Enerhodar ☢️ power plants & Kamianske ☢️ dump all beside Dniper.
[2022-03-12]
@EmineDzheppar @MFA_Ukraine Moscovy tank crew members murders two 🇺🇦 post office workers delivering pensions in Zaporizhzhia oblast. After “Russian Warship, Go Fuck Yerself!” issue, UkrPoshta issues: “Russian Tank crew! Go Fuck Yersrlves!”
[2022-03-13]
@guardian is STILL repeating disinfo that damages 🇺🇦 sovereignty: At “07:22 Sunday, 13 March 2022” @GdnPolitics repeats the TROLL that Zaporizhzhia RSA ( has made a statement about puppet mayor. @MFA_Ukraine @KyivIndependent @ukrpravda_news
[2022-03-13]
Delighted to see UK PM acknowledging the abduction of the courageous mayors of Diprudne & Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Even while being tortured they haven’t sold out their community. Russia’s appointment of a puppet mayor in Melitopol is a catastrophic affront to democracy.
[2022-03-14]
Mayoring under occupation - Mayor Orlov of nuclear town ☢️Enerhodar☢️ - a 🧵. Top photo: Mayor Orlov today (note 🇺🇦). Below, when I last met the mayor. Right: as the mayor pleads with the Russians to stop shelling Europe’s largest nuclear plant. 1/
[2022-03-14]
‘“We do not negotiate with the occupiers, but only put forward our terms,” says Viktor Dibrova, who visited several times at a meeting with the Russians.’ The situation at the nuclear power plant is now tense…’ 2/
[2022-03-14]
‘Recently, Russians brought their journalist to the nuclear power plant, & made material about how Ukrainians allegedly hid weapons on the territory of the station. “All employees refused to communicate, so they recorded an interview with their own,” the local council says…” 3/
[2022-03-14]
‘There’s not even money in banks… When people go for surgery, they often need medicines that they can’t find. But we have a group where they can write about it. Other residents read and help in any way they can,” says Alexei Melnichuk, employee of the nuclear power plant…” 9/
[2022-03-14]
‘According to local authorities, there are now about half a thousand military Russian Federations in Energodar, and some of them are representatives of Chechnya. They are based on three facilities: about 400 people - at a nuclear power plant, several dozen more…’ 11/
[2022-03-14]
‘The situation at the nuclear power plant, according to him, is now tense. “The occupying forces are based there. The training base was very badly damaged. Shift work has stabilized, people do their job - they give electricity to the state…” 10/
[2022-03-14]
‘“This war rallied not only Energodar: it rallied the whole country. Citizens unite, patrols have been established. At the beginning of the occupation, shops tried to rob, so the self-organization of patrols was useful,” says Alexei Melnichuk. 12/
[2022-03-14]
@RALee85 Does the blowing up of this bridge add credibility to as yet unconfirmed(?) reports that Ukraine destroyed vast amounts of Russian materiel at nearby Vasylivka. Vasylivka being where a bridge connects the road from Zaporizhzhia to the road to occupied Melitopol?
[2022-03-14]
Ukr Parliament: ”🇷🇺 is going to blow up ammunition in front of the Zap Nuclear ☢️power unit. In the next hour, occupiers, who captured the Zaporizhzhia NPP, plan to begin “disposal” of ammo on the site…” For how the town is coping w occupation see:
[2022-03-15]
Anatolii Kurtiev mayor of Zaporizhzhia 🇺🇦said: “Soviet occupation lasted 70 years, & some people still have a good memory of that time…But we are a different generation, & all that is not enough for us. What we need is freedom, freedom to live in our own country…”
[2022-03-18]
@TrentTelenko After Fukushima, 🇷🇺‘s occupation of Chornobyl & Enerhodar nuclear power plants, it’s highly rational to avoid nuclear power. In one oblast alone in E Ukraine, on one single site 100m from the Dnieper, there’s around ~55m tonnes of radioactive waste. Crank up the windmills, etc.
[2022-03-20]
“Mayor of Enerhodar (#Zaporozhye region) Dmitry Orlov reported on the kidnapping of First Vice Mayor Ivan Samoyduk by Russian troops
Also, according to Orlov 👇🏽, the Russians began to exert physical and psychological pressure on civil activists.” 15/
[2022-03-20]
When I last met my friend, Mayor Orlov of 🇺🇦 occupied nuclear town of Enerhodar☢️, Mayor Orlov looked like this. Here Mayor Orlov is as he was pleading with Russia to STOP shelling Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Now below, after weeks of occupation 👇🏽 @IAPonomarenko
[2022-03-20]
Russian army machine gun fire, stirs not this crowd. Occupied city -Enerhodar- where Europe’s largest ☢️nuclear power station’s situated. “Z” clearly visible on occupiers’ jeep.
[2022-03-20]
People of occupied Enerhodar (site of Europe’s largest ☢️ power station), led by my friend Mayor Orlov, protest at abduction of deputy mayor (photographed here, a couple of weeks ago). @DrEricDing 17/
[2022-03-20]
@Hromadske @peterpomeranzev 1000+ Ukrainians led by my friend Mayor Orlov (photographed below with the @OSCE in May 2021) protesting at the kidnapping of Ivan Samoiduk, deputy mayor of occupied Enerhodar, site of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
[2022-03-22]
“An odious Russian singer removed the Ukrainian flag from the Enerhodar City Council building. 🇷🇺 rock singer Yulia Checherina commits scandalous act & removes Ukrainian 🇺🇦 from ☢️ city Enerhodar.” Note how Mayor Orlov said last week: “Flag remains.”
[2022-03-25]
Around Huliopol👇🏽 (Zaporizhzhia région), where fierce fighting’s ongoing, there was an anarcho-syndicalist republic of 7m souls. It ended when the Bolsheviks lured its leaders to Muscovy for “peace talks.” The Soviets executed the Ukrainian delegation.
[2022-03-25]
@himm7 @BSBonner 🇺🇦National chapter of ICRC (Red Cross) in 🇺🇦 is doing extraordinary & heroic work. Peopled by volunteers & funded from inside 🇺🇦. Especially supporting IDPs arriving in Zaporizhzhia from Mariupol. I know the leaders of ICRC in Zap. They’re true heroes. Nothing to do w Lavrov.
[2022-03-26]
@PaulNiland @BSBonner Quite. Neither Zaporizhzhia nor Kherson oblasts are in the Donbas, even while eastern Dnipropetrovsk east of Pavlohrad is. ONLY remaining war aim is land bridge to Crimea. Yet, even “Donetsk Peoples Rep’” ex-defence “minister” scents another “Minsk” betrayal hanging in the air.
[2022-03-28]
Residents of occupied ☢️Enerhodar☢️ calling on Russia to release their forcibly disappeared deputy mayor, Ivan Samadoika (28th March): Source: Telegram of Dimitri Orlov, elected mayor of occupied Enerhodar, site of Europes largest nuclear power plant:
[2022-03-28]
“On Monday, March 28, Energodar residents gathered for a peaceful rally to show once again that despite everything, Enerhodar was & remains a 🇺🇦 city where Ukrainians live and work. People demand the release of the first deputy mayor Ivan Samoidyuk.” Mayor Orlov’s Telegram
[2022-03-28]
@NikaMelkozerova I have been keeping some of the receipts of Russia-occupied Melitopol, Enerhodar, Kherson, & elsewhere. Mainly about enforced disappearances of courageous patriotic elected officials, activists, journalists defending democratic Ukraine:
[2022-03-31]
No 👩🏽⚖️🦄claims against 🇷🇺? 😹: ”🇷🇺 occupiers drew up and signed the ‘Act of Reception and Transfer of Security of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant’. Noted that on the part of the administration of the ‘protected object’ there are no claims against the National Guard of the🇷🇺.”