Fire at the cooling tower of the Sapporichya nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been occupied by the Russian army since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Europe's largest nuclear power plant initially continued to operate under Russian control, but its operation was halted in the autumn of 2022.
Recurring incidents around the plant have intensified concerns about a major nuclear accident. Kyiv and Moscow repeatedly accuse each other of endangering the safety of the NPP.
The constant tension surrounding the plant has led to several close calls, with one incident involving a minor fire in the power facility. Both Ukraine and Russia have warned of potential catastrophic consequences if the situation continues to deteriorate.
