Ukraine, Russia Swap Accusations Over Fire At Zaporizhzhia Nuke Plant

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of starting a fire at the dormant, Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, but both sides reported no signs of elevated radiation, Tom Balmforth and Yuliia Dysa reported for Reuters.

Russian forces allegedly started a fire at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine. I Photo: Ralf1969 Wikimedia Commons

Russian forces started a fire at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post, Mariya Knight reported for CNN.

Zelensky posted a video showing a large plume of smoke coming out of one of the towers on the plant’s territory.

He said radiation indicators were normal but blamed Russia for using the nuclear plant “to blackmail Ukraine, and all of Europe and the world.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog said its staff had seen thick, dark smoke coming from the northern part of the vast six-reactor plant in southern Ukraine, currently in "cold shutdown" after several blasts.

"These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now," IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned in a separate statement, without attributing blame, Lidia Kelly and Mark Trevelyan also reported for CNN.