Over the weekend, a fire broke out at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has now been extinguished according to Russian state media citing Rosatom, Russia's nuclear energy agency. The incident has sparked a blame game between Moscow and Kyiv, with concerns over a potential nuclear meltdown looming.
Russian forces have occupied the plant illegally for more than two years. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported being informed of an alleged drone attack on one of the plant's cooling towers. Moscow accused Ukrainian forces of the attack, which allegedly occurred shortly after a visit by Dmitry Rogozin, a Kremlin representative with a history of interest in UAVs and UAGs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of setting fire to the plant, claiming Moscow is using the plant's security as a means of 'blackmail' against Ukraine, Europe, and the world. Zelenskyy called for accountability and stressed that Ukrainian control over the plant is crucial for safety.
The IAEA confirmed witnessing smoke and explosions at the plant but stated that there was no impact on nuclear safety and radiation levels remained normal. The agency condemned the attacks in the area, warning of the risks they pose to nuclear safety and calling for an immediate halt to such actions.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized the need to stop reckless attacks that endanger the plant's safety. The IAEA has requested access to the cooling tower to investigate the incident further, although it remains uncertain if such access has been granted.
