The European Commission has urged member states to stockpile iodine pills, other designated drugs, and nuclear-protective suits in order to help protect people in the eastern part of Ukraine from the potential effects of a military conflict.

It is important to step up preparations for dealing with a possible chemical or biological attack, RT reported.

“The commission is working to ensure it enhances preparedness in the area of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats generally,” a spokesman told the Financial Times on Monday.

Russia put its nuclear weapons on high alert a few days after launching its military operation in Ukraine, citing what it described as the “aggressive statements” made by NATO and the draconian financial sanctions imposed by the West.

While the fire at Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant was extinguished, it left a lot of damage. The plant had been seized by Russian forces and there is still ongoing fighting between them and Ukrainian forces. It’s not yet clear what caused the blaze, but Russian officials have said that it was caused by a mistake made during building work on the plant.

On the day that Moscow announced its decision not to allow an attempt by Ukrainian radicals to cut power to the former Chernobyl nuclear power station, it became the site of the world’s most devastating nuclear disaster in 1986.

There has been a sudden surge in demand for potassium-iodine pills in the EU, Russia, and even the US since two incidents took place last month. Earlier this Month, pharmacies reported that they have run out of the medication, RT reported.

HERA is leading the EU’s preparations for nuclear incidents, which are being led by the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). HERA was established last September to manage and monitor the bloc’s response to Covid-19, a pandemic that has left more than 4,000 people dead.

However, European lawmakers have insisted that HERA needs to work faster in order to keep up with the pace of events in Ukraine.