A fire broke out this Sunday in the cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which is under the control of Russian forces. This incident has raised significant concerns regarding nuclear safety and security amidst ongoing military tensions in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the fire through a video he shared on social media, stating that the situation remains precarious as long as Russian forces control the plant. He emphasized that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been used by Russia as a tool for blackmail against Ukraine and the international community.
In response to the incident, the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) dispatched experts to monitor the situation. They reported observing a thick column of dark smoke and explosions in the vicinity of the plant but confirmed that radiation levels were within normal limits. The IAEA also noted that there was no immediate threat to nuclear safety reported following the fire.
