War in Ukraine: Fire in cooling system of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant

According to Russian reports, a fire broke out in the cooling system of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, southern Ukraine, in the evening. The Moscow-appointed governor of the region, Yevgeny Balitsky, said that there had previously been a Ukrainian attack on the area surrounding the power plant, as the state agency Tass reported. However, there is no danger, as all the nuclear power plant’s blocks have been shut down. Radiation levels are within the normal range.

The Russian authorities spoke of considerable damage to the infrastructure. According to the Russians, the fire was caused by a combat drone.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in turn, accused Russia of setting fire to the nuclear power plant. The radiation levels were normal, Zelensky wrote on Platform X. “But as long as Russian terrorists control the nuclear power plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal.” He called for an immediate reaction from the international community and the IAEA nuclear authority.

Russia captured Europe’s largest nuclear power plant shortly after the start of its war of aggression and has occupied it ever since. Both sides blame each other for attacks on the power plant or sabotage of it. Russia has recently repeatedly complained about Ukrainian drone attacks.

Due to safety concerns, the reactors were shut down in 2022, but still need to be cooled. IAEA observers are stationed on site. The observers reported late in the evening that they had observed heavy smoke in the north of the nuclear power plant after several explosions. They had been informed of an alleged drone attack. There were no effects on nuclear safety.