A fire erupted at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant’s cooling tower in southern Ukraine on Sunday. Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for the incident. Both sides confirmed no increase in radiation levels around the station, controlled by Russian forces since the early days of their full-scale offensive.
Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-appointed governor of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, claimed on Telegram that shelling by Ukrainian armed forces in Energodar caused the fire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky countered on social media, stating that “Russian occupiers” ignited the blaze. He assured the public that radiation levels remained normal. Balitsky also confirmed the “radiation background” was within safe limits.
Ukraine’s interior minister announced intensive monitoring from meteorological stations near the plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility. Balitsky mentioned all six units are in cold shutdown, dismissing any threat of steam explosions or other consequences. Firefighters were on-site tackling the flames.
🚨🌎 Meanwhile as we progress WW3
Zelensky has confirmed there is a fire at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Hopefully this doesn’t go where you think it could go
Humanity is in real trouble – we are Ruled by absolute Psychopaths pic.twitter.com/0oldcr9Wkg
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) August 11, 2024
A video posted by Zelensky depicted black smoke and flames around one of the cooling towers. The plant, situated on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, marks a de facto frontline in southern Ukraine. Russia controls this bank, while Ukraine holds the opposite side. Russia has repeatedly accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the plant, allegations Ukraine denies. Kyiv accuses Moscow of militarising the facility by placing heavy weapons there at the conflict’s outset.
Ukraine labels Russia’s control over the plant as nuclear “blackmail.” The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with staff on-site, has consistently urged caution, warning that reckless military actions could lead to a significant nuclear disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant?
A fire broke out at a cooling tower of the plant, with no radiation spike detected.
Who controls the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant?
The plant is under the control of Russian forces.
Has there been any detected increase in radiation levels?
No, both sides reported that radiation levels remain normal.
What caused the fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant?
Kyiv and Moscow blame each other, with no definitive cause established.
Is there a risk of a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia plant?
The IAEA has urged restraint to avoid any major nuclear accident.
