Russian forces set Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine on fire
: A view shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine August 4, 2022. (Reuters Photo)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that Russian forces had ignited a fire on the premises of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located in southern Ukraine. Zelenskyy noted that the blaze was visible from areas controlled by Kyiv but confirmed that radiation levels remained normal.
In a statement posted on the Telegram app, Zelenskyy provided reassurance about the current radiation indicators at the plant. The fire reportedly involved the burning of automobile tires in the plant’s cooling towers, according to unofficial reports from a local official in Nikopol, a city that overlooks the facility. The official advised residents to remain calm amid the incident.
IAEA officials have confirmed that it does not pose a threat to the plant’s reactors. The fire, located at the base of a natural draft cooling tower, was reportedly not near any active reactors, which remain offline. The cooling towers, including the one involved in the fire, are currently not in use.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, has been under Russian control since March 2022. The plant’s proximity to the front lines has heightened nuclear safety concerns throughout Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has faced challenges in accessing the site due to the conflict, leading to calls for Russia to allow full inspections.
In a related development from July 19, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko reported that approximately 5,000 workers had been evacuated from the plant. These workers were affiliated with Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency, Energoatom.
Since Feb. 2024, Russian forces have restricted access to the plant for remaining personnel, according to Halushchenko. This staff is intended to help complete the construction of additional reactor units at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, which is under development using U.S. technology aimed at mitigating power outages in case of further Russian attacks.
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on July 11 demanding Russia’s withdrawal from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the restoration of full Ukrainian control. The resolution also criticized Russia for not adhering to safety protocols established by the IAEA and urged Moscow to grant the agency unrestricted access to the plant.
