MSNBC expert Malcolm Nance faces ridicule over bizarre claim about Chernobyl during attack on Ukraine

 MSNBC terrorism analyst Malcolm Nance faced online ridicule and mockery over a bizarre claim he made about the infamous Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine amidst the Russian attack on the former Soviet republic.

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian president confirmed that Russian forces had taken control of the Chernobyl site, where the world's worst nuclear disaster was contained in 1986. The report raised concern after higher than usual levels of radiation were detected, though they were still within safety guidelines.

When someone asked on social media, "What does [Russian President] Putin want with Chernobyl?" Nance had an odd response.

"It powers central North Ukraine," he replied.

Social media users immediately mocked the suggestion, given that the nuclear plant had been decommissioned for decades.

"What in the ever loving hell is wrong with Malcolm Nance?" read one tweet. "And he was in 'intelligence' for over 30 years?? Explains a lot, actually."

"Malcolm Nance googled 'Chernobyl,' saw that it was a nuclear power plant, and then just stopped reading," joked another user.

"Malcolm Nance is a Russian expert & doesn't know Chernobyl is a nuclear waste land?" asked another detractor.

"Please don't listen to him. I mean the rest of Chernobyl has been shut down since 2000, ffs. He's just a grifter," said another critic.

"Well, In fairness to @MalcolmNance.... If he were smart or had any credibility at all, he wouldn't be on @msnbc, now would he?" read another tweet.

Nance later deleted the tweet, but it was documented at an online archive.

Despite Nance's odd explanation, other experts said that Chernobyl was simply in the path of one of the quickest routes to Kyiv, Ukraine's capital.

Nance previously outraged many when he told Americans to get over the bombing in Afghanistan during the U.S. withdrawal from that country. He later said that he tweeted before knowing about the U.S. casualties in the terror attack.

On Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that the Chernobyl nuclear plant was safe and secure despite the military occupation by Putin's troops.

Here's more about the Russian capture of Chernobyl:

Chernobyl no-go zone targeted as Russia invades Ukraine | Rush Hourwww.youtube.com