CNN
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Russian forces began a hearth on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Energy Plant in southern Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a Telegram put up Sunday.
Zelensky posted a video displaying a big plume of smoke popping out of one of many towers on the plant’s territory. He stated radiation indicators have been regular however blamed Russia for utilizing the nuclear plant “to blackmail Ukraine, and all of Europe and the world.”
“We’re ready for the response of the world, we’re ready for the response of the IAEA,” he stated, referring to the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company. “Russia have to be accountable for this.”
Yevhen Yevtushenko, head of the Ukrainian-controlled navy administration within the Nikopol district, which appears out onto the plant, stated there was unofficial info that Russian forces had set hearth to numerous vehicle tires within the cooling towers.
He referred to as it “a provocation, or an try and create panic” and reassured that the plant is “working as regular as potential beneath the circumstances of occupation.”
Russia, in flip, accused Ukraine of the hearth on the plant’s territory.
The Russian-appointed official in command of occupied elements of Zaporizhzhia, Yevgeniy Balitsky, stated the hearth occurred “because of shelling of town of Enerhodar by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” Balitsky additionally stated there isn’t any radiation menace to the nuclear plant or town of Enerhodar.
Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Russian-installed Zaporizhzhia administration, stated Kyiv forces launched an assault drone from the Ukrainian territory to strike the ability plant and referred to as it “ a focused and deliberate blow.”
Russian International Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of “nuclear terror” following the assault and urged the IAEA to reply.
The Russian-installed communications director of the nuclear plant, Evgeniya Yashina, informed state media TASS that there have been no victims following the strike. Nevertheless, the plant “suffered critical harm for the primary time,” she stated. TASS reported that “the non-functioning cooling tower No. 1 was broken, and plastic steam traps caught hearth following the Ukrainian drone strike,” citing the Ministry of Emergency Conditions.
The hearth “didn’t have an effect on the operation of the plant in any method,” and workers of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Conditions are engaged on its elimination, the plant’s Russian-backed Telegram web page stated.
The IAEA issued an announcement on X on Sunday following the incident.
“IAEA consultants witnessed robust darkish smoke coming from ZNPP’s northern space following a number of explosions heard within the night. Crew was informed by ZNPP of an alleged drone assault at the moment on one of many cooling towers situated on the web site. No affect has been reported for nuclear security,” it stated.
