Ukrainian firefighters extinguished a fire this morning, Friday, at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, located in central Ukraine. The fire broke out overnight as a result of Russian shelling targeting the facility. The government’s emergency service stated on its Facebook page that "the fire was extinguished at 06:20 (04:20 GMT). There are no casualties."
Earlier, the Ukrainian emergency agency reported that Russian forces attacked the plant, causing a fire in a nearby five-story training building. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm indicated that there were no signs of elevated radiation levels at the Zaporizhia plant, which generates over one-fifth of Ukraine's electricity.
Video footage from the plant, verified by Reuters, showed shelling and smoke rising near a building in the complex. Russia has already taken control of the Chernobyl plant, located about 100 kilometers north of Kyiv, which emitted radiation across much of Europe in 1986 after the worst nuclear disaster in history.
Some analysts, according to "Sky News Arabia," noted that the Zaporizhia plant is a different type and is safer than Chernobyl. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to get the latest updates on the situation at the plant. The White House stated that "President Biden joined President Zelensky in urging Russia to cease its military activities in the area and allow firefighters and emergency teams access to the site."
The U.S. Energy Secretary tweeted that the reactors at the Zaporizhia plant "are protected by robust containment facilities and are being safely shut down." The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which represents the largest attack on a European nation since World War II, has now entered its ninth day.
It is believed that thousands have died or been injured in the assault, with one million refugees fleeing and international sanctions imposed on Russia shaking its economy. The United States and Britain announced on Thursday further sanctions on more members of the Russian ruling elite, following the European Union's lead, intensifying pressure on the Kremlin. Russia describes its actions in Ukraine as a "special operation" aimed not at occupying territory but at toppling the government, destroying its neighbor's military capabilities, and capturing those it considers dangerous nationalists.
