Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Europe is 'one step away' from a complete disaster.
It came as power was cut to the two remaining working reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station - which is currently the site of one of the major battles after Russia's illegal invasion of their neighbour.
Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom believe that fires in nearby ash pits at a coal power station close to the complex had caused the disconnection from the reactors from the power grid.
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The company blamed Russian "invaders" for the disconnection.
Mr Zelenskyy said back-up diesel generators had started to ensure power supply and keep the plant safe.
"If our station staff had not reacted after the blackout, then we would have already been forced to overcome the consequences of a radiation accident," he said in his nightly address.
"Russia has put Ukraine and all Europeans in a situation one step away from a radiation disaster."
The plant is currently under Russian control, with US President Joe Biden making calls for the plant to be returned to Ukraine.
Mr Biden telephoned Mr Zelenskyy on Thursday to provide support as the illegal war continues.
The leader of Ukraine said: "Had a great conversation with POTUS. Thanked for the unwavering U.S. support for Ukrainian people – security and financial. We discussed Ukraine’s further steps on our path to the victory over the aggressor and importance of holding Russia accountable for war crimes."
Meanwhile, Russia's ministry for defence claims that their forces have destroyed eight Ukrainian warplanes in strikes at air bases in the Poltava and Dnipropetrovsk regions of Ukraine.
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