Ukraine and Russia have exchanged accusations over a fire that erupted on Sunday at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, a site under Russian control since 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russian forces deliberately ignited the fire to “blackmail” Kyiv, while Yevgeny Balitsky, the Kremlin-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia, attributed the blaze to Ukrainian shelling.
The fire, which broke out at the plant’s cooling towers, has not resulted in any reported radiation spikes or immediate nuclear safety concerns, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The agency observed “strong dark smoke” following “multiple explosions” and has requested urgent access to the site to assess the damage.
The incident comes as Ukraine launches its most significant incursion into Russian territory since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 30 kilometers inside Russia’s western Kursk region, leading to the evacuation of over 76,000 residents and the declaration of a state of emergency by local authorities. Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s labeling of the offensive as a “major provocation,” Ukrainian forces continue to push deeper into Russian-held territory.
As tensions escalate, the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant raises international concerns, highlighting the potential dangers of military activity near sensitive nuclear facilities.
