Today we published an investigation into Russia's attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant. Behind the scenes there was a lot of geolocation. I'd like to tell you the story of one photo.
Here's how some Russian propaganda helped prove it was real. #ThanksRT!
So this is the photo. It's of a damaged office at the plant. I can say with confidence it is located at precisely 47.506689, 34.584975 on the third floor of the main administration building at the power plant.
This geolocation isn't really all that tough. Particularly because the Ukrainians are VERY PROUD of their nuclear plant. To show it off, they even set up a 3D virtual tour. Using features in the window, it's easy to line everything up, even the floor.
We also have some corroborating footage from the night of the assault that can explain why the damage was so extensive. In particular, video of Russian soldiers firing RPGs into this very building. There were 5 fired in total, and it took a lot of other damage too.
OK, so that's all fine and good. But wouldn't it be nice to CHRONOLOCATE this image? That is, to prove it was taken AFTER the assault? Well that's where RT comes in.
After the attack, they visited the plant (Pretty cheeky, calling it an "exclusive").
Now in RT's official state narrative, the only building damaged in the assault was the training center. They claimed was set on fire by Ukranian "infiltrators". #lies
They were very careful to crop out any other damage at the site, including at the main admin building.
But in another shot, they proudly showed some flags flying over the reactor. One was the Russian flag. The other was the Soviet "Victory Banner" from World War II (H/T @dex_eve and others for showing me that).
Now let's go back and look at the flags at that office. A little hard to make out the second one, but it's pretty clearly a red flag. I'd call it a good match.
And voila! We now now have located this photo in both space and time! Thanks a bunch RT!
BUT WAIT! There's a twist!
That RT shot ISN'T in front of the main admin building. It's actually at a different part of the plant (pretty sure around: 47.5076, 34.5886].
Again, the power company's ever popular Youtube channel can verify that.
Here's my hypothesis:
RT couldn't show the flags flying over the admin building, which they'd blasted to shreds the night before.
So the MOVED THEM! To get a triumphant victory shot of the plant that wouldn't show all the damage they'd done.
That's some speculation, but I'd like to think it might be true.
Anyway, thanks for reading to the end!
P.S. If you want to check out more about what actually happened (not the RT version) please read our story.
NEW ANALYSIS: We looked carefully at security footage and photos from last week's Russian assault on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant and found evidence that it was far riskier than first reported. Here's what we turned up:
Around midnight local time, Russian forces began a slow and methodical advance on the plant. The column of armored vehicles, led by two tanks, approached the plant from the southeast along the main service road.
Ukrainian forces opened fire and one tank was hit.
Russian forces immediately returned fire, and at least one power line was struck. The @iaeaorg has now said that 2 of the plant’s 4 transmission lines were damaged in the attack (though we don’t know for sure if this was one of them).
BREAKING: The Chernobyl nuclear site has lost power, according to the state regulator. Key points:
✅The site lost power at 11:22 this morning local.
✅ Emergency generators can keep safety systems running for 48 hours.
✅Ongoing combat operations are making repair impossible.
Yesterday the @iaeaorg reported that it was increasingly concerned about conditions at the site. 210 workers have now gone 14 days without being rotated. And the IAEA has lost remote radiation monitoring data.
@iaeaorg There are 20,000 old nuclear fuel rods are at Chernobyl that are kept in a spent fuel pool facility there. These fuel rods accumulated during the plant's operation from 1977-2000.
The pools require water to circulate the keep the fuel cool. HOWEVER...
NEW: This video shows clear damage from heavy weapons on the elevated walkways between the reactor buildings at Zaporizhzhya NPP. This is well inside the plant perimeter.
It appears to have been shot at approximately [47°30'35.50"N, 34°35'13.34"E].
And an undated on-the-ground photo showing the walkway system.
Here's the latest on what's happening at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, with some observations.
First a recap: overnight, Russian troops engaged Ukrainian security forces at the plant.
An administrative building used for training caught fire during the fighting. The building [47°30'17.52"N 34°35'19.25"] is approximately half a kilometer from the unit one reactor.
That fire is now out according to both Ukrainian authorities and the @iaeaorg.
@iaeaorg According to @iaeaorg radiation levels remain normal and critical safety systems are in operation at the plant.
However, a statement from Ukraine's regulator says that the plant's Unit 1 reactor, which was closest to the fighting, did sustain some battle damage.
BREAKING: This webcam, geolocated to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, main gate appears to show combat vehicles engaged in active fighting around the plant. (H/T @GeorgeWHerbert)
@GeorgeWHerbert Can anybody identify these vehicles? Look like APC/IFVs of some kind?
The @iaeaorg has also put out a statement that a large number of Russian armor and troops have broken through a barricade near the plant. The plants operators describe the situation as critical: iaea.org/newscenter/pre…
First, Putin has brought nuclear weapons into the conversation multiple times. Once at the start of the conflict, he made veiled mention of them and again on Sunday, when he ordered his nuclear forces into a “special mode of combat duty.”
What’s a special mode of combat duty? Probably not a higher alert level. @russianforces suggests it may be an order to activate the Russian command and control system, which can’t be used to launch weapons in peacetime. Or it may just be a matter of adding more personnel.