The six units of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. (Image via Wikipedia.)The six units of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. (Image via Wikipedia.)
Midwestern

Russian forces unleash heavy weapons at Europe's largest nuclear plant

The fire is out now at Europe's largest nuclear power station, but it's now under Russian control.

According to reports from Ukrainian officials, Russian forces began heavy weapons fire Friday at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Enerhodar at around 2 a.m. local time.

The plant accounts for about one quarter of Ukraine's power generation.

A fire broke out in a training building outside the power station's perimetre.

Andriy Tuz, spokesperson for the plant told Telegram that shells were falling directly on the Zaporizhzhia plant and had set fire to one of the facility's six reactors. The reactor is under renovation and not currently operating, however there is nuclear fuel inside he said.

Firefighters were reportedly unable to get near the fire because they are being shot at, Tuz said.

"We demand that they stop the heavy weapons fire," Tuz said in a video statement. "There is a real threat of nuclear danger in the biggest atomic energy station in Europe."

Ukraine authorities told the International Atomic Energy Agency that the fire has not affected "essential" equipment, and plant personnel are taking mitigatory actions. The reactor has not been damaged and radiation levels are normal.

-With files from the Associated Press

https://twitter.com/iaeaorg/status/1499552874719850549

 

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