During severe battle between Russian and Ukrainian forces, a fire broke out in a training building near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Ukraine’s official emergency service stated on Friday.
There was no sign of heightened radiation levels at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which generates more than a fifth of Ukraine’s total power, according to US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. In an online post, the mayor of the neighbouring town of Energodar stated that there has been heavy fighting in the area approximately 550 kilometres (342 miles) southeast of Kyiv. He stated that there had been casualties but did not elaborate.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said the Russian army was “shooting from all sides” at the factory.
He added on Twitter, “Fire has already broken out… Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, enable firefighters, and form a security zone!”
Later, Ukrainian authorities confirmed that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant had been secured after a fire broke out Friday when the station came under fire from invading Russian forces.
