Fire in the cooling system of the Sapporo nuclear power plant
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant fell into the hands of Russian invaders in 2022, sparking concerns of a disaster. Now, the cooling system is on fire. Both Russians and Ukrainians assure that radiation levels are normal, but they blame each other heavily.
In the evening, according to Russian reports, a fire broke out at the cooling system of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, southeastern Ukraine. The Russian-appointed governor of the region, Yevgeny Balitsky, stated that there had been a Ukrainian attack on the plant's surroundings, as reported by the state news agency TASS. However, he claimed that there is no danger as all blocks of the NPP are shut down, and radiation levels are normal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stated in social media that radiation levels are not a cause for concern. However, he claimed that Russian troops are responsible for the fire, stating that they set it. Since the first day of the plant's occupation, Russia has been using it to blackmail Ukraine and Europe, he said.
Russia seized Europe's largest nuclear power plant shortly after the start of its invasion and has been occupying it since. Both sides blame each other for attacks on the plant or acts of sabotage. Russia has 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 the site.
The Russian-appointed governor of the region accused Ukrainian forces of launching an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant's surroundings, which allegedly led to the fire in the cooling system. Amidst the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian troops of setting the fire at the nuclear power plant, using it as a weapon of blackmail against Ukraine and Europe.
