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Monday, June 5, 2023 | 

Nuclear conflict is now ‘back within the realm of possibility,’ U.N. official says

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday nuclear conflict is possible

By Herb Scribner Herb Scribnerhscribner@deseretnews.com
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A Soviet-era top secret in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

A Soviet-era top secret object Duga, an over-the-horizon radar system once used as part of the Soviet missile defense early-warning radar network, seen behind a radioactivity sign in Chernobyl, Ukraine, on Nov. 22, 2018.

Associated Press

The prospect of nuclear conflict — which once seemed “unthinkable” — is now “back within the realm of possibility,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday.

What he said: “Raising the alert of Russian nuclear forces is a bone-chilling development. The prospect of nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility,” Guterres said.

Catch up quick: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine alleged last week that Russia was planning a “terrorist” incident at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine.

  • Per CNN, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence said in a Facebook post last Friday that “available intelligence says (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has ordered his troops to prepare a terror attack at Chernobyl for which the Russian invaders will try to blame Ukraine.” 
  • The Chernobyl plant in Ukraine was disconnected from its power grid after Russian forces attacked the location during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as I reported for the Deseret News.
  • Any potential leak from Chernobyl could create a “radioactive cloud” across Europe, per The Daily Beast.