Zelenskyy reacts to fire at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant, accuses Russia of provocations
The fire at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is attributed to the Russian forces occupying the facility, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote in Telegram on Aug. 12.
Ukrainian observers in the nearby city of Nikopol reported the blaze at the plant. Radiation levels remain within safe limits, but the situation is far from normal as long as Russian forces control the facility.
"Russia has been using the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant as a tool of blackmail against Ukraine, Europe, and the entire world since the first day they seized it," Zelenskyy said.
He also shared a video showing thick black smoke rising over the plant, reinforcing the severity of the situation.
Zelenskyy called for Russia to be held accountable for the fire and stressed that only Ukrainian control over the plant could ensure a return to normality and full safety.
"We await the world's response, as well as the response from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Zelenskyy added.
Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko provided additional details, saying that as of 10:30 p.m. local time, there were no detected changes in the radiation levels around the plant, and no artificial radionuclides were found.
"We are closely monitoring the situation near the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant,” Klymenko added.
“Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center’s posts near the plant are operating in emergency mode to ensure timely tracking of radiation levels."
The Russian troops set fire to many car tires inside the plant's cooling towers, sources located across the Dnipro River said, Nikopol District Military Administration head Yevhen Yevtushenko reported.
"This may be a provocation or an attempt to create panic in the towns on the right bank of the former reservoir," Yevtushenko suggested.
Zaporizhzhya plant operates as normally as it is possible under occupation, he confirmed.
The IAEA has had a permanent mission at the Russian-occupied plant since September 2022.
Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and has been under Russian control since March 2022.
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