Ukraine and Russia Clash Over Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Fire
Ukraine and Russia are trading accusations following a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attributed the blaze to Russian forces, who have occupied the plant for over two years. In contrast, the Kremlin-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia, Yevgeny Balitsky, blamed Ukrainian shelling for starting the fire.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported observing “strong dark smoke” from the plant but noted there was no impact on nuclear safety. The IAEA also mentioned an “alleged drone attack” on one of the cooling towers, although no radiation increase or nuclear leak has been reported.
The fire at Zaporizhzhia coincides with a significant development on the battlefield. Ukrainian troops have reportedly advanced up to 30 kilometers inside Russia’s western Kursk region, marking the deepest incursion since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
In response to the fire, Balitsky asked for “calm” and confirmed that there had been no radiation spike. Zelensky, however, accused Russia of deliberately starting the fire to “blackmail” Kyiv.
On early Monday, Vladimir Rogov, another Kremlin-installed official, confirmed via Telegram that the fire had been “completely extinguished.”
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been under Russian control since 2022 and has not produced power for over two years. All six of its reactors have been in cold shutdown since April.
The IAEA has requested “immediate access to the cooling tower to assess the damage.” This comes as the UN’s nuclear watchdog continues to monitor the situation closely.
In a related development, President Zelensky acknowledged that Ukrainian forces are conducting a cross-border offensive into Russia’s Kursk region. This revelation came a day after the fire at Zaporizhzhia.
According to Ukrainian officials, thousands of troops are involved in the offensive, which has led to the evacuation of over 76,000 people from the Kursk region. Emergency trains to Moscow have been set up for those seeking to flee. The situation remains tense, with ongoing fighting reported and Kursk Governor Aleksei Smirnov mentioning injuries from what he described as a “treacherous” Ukrainian attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled the offensive as a “major provocation.”
Be First to Comment