Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was on fire early Friday local time following a Russian attack, Mayor Dmytro Orlov of the nearby town of Energodar said, according to Reuters.
Orlov said that Russian and local Ukrainian forces have engaged in fierce fighting, resulting in casualties.
“As a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire,” Orlov said, according to Reuters. He added that the situation poses a threat to world security.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in post on Twitter that it was aware of the reported attack on the plant.
“#Ukraine: IAEA is aware of reports of shelling at #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), in contact with Ukrainian authorities about situation,” the agency tweeted.
Ukrainian authorities wrote a letter hours earlier to Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the IAEA, sounding the alarm that Russian tanks had broken through “the block-post” into Enerhodar.
“The battle is going on in the town of Enerhodar and on the road to the ZNPP (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant) site,” the letter read, describing the situation as “critical,” according to the agency.
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Fire breaks out at major nuclear plant in Ukraine amid fighting https://t.co/P4dsDSS7kj pic.twitter.com/ITjEKVcgps
— The Hill (@thehill) March 4, 2022
Firefighters are reportedly being allowed in without being shot at now, so somebody wasn’t completely insane. https://t.co/1MpQc8Qk9D
— Lesley Carhart (@hacks4pancakes) March 4, 2022
It's infrastructure. The idea that they're *on the ground* trying to melt down a plant – when, if they really wanted to destroy it, they could just bomb it from the air far more effectively – is just so stupid. https://t.co/iu2YidahaK
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 4, 2022
1. We do not know the actual status of this plant or whether this was intentional
2. If true, the radiation will end up in Russia, so not sure this is what it looks like
3. I understand a lot of you are hot for a reason to go to war, but maybe wait to know more https://t.co/Gay3DFfJk3— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 4, 2022
CNBC now reporting fire was at a training facility.
— Jon B. Wolfsthal (@JBWolfsthal) March 4, 2022
#BREAKING Ukrainian authorities say safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is now secured, after a fire broke out when the station came under fire from invading Russian forces.
"The director of the plant said that the nuclear safety is now guaranteed": Oleksandr Starukh pic.twitter.com/J8bk142GLY
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 4, 2022
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