Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to AFP.
Both sides said that no radiation had been detected at the nuclear power plant, which has been under the control of Russian forces since the early days of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022.
"Due to the Ukrainian armed forces shelling the town of Enervilzhar, a fire broke out at the cooling system of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," Yevgeny Balitsky, pro-Russian governor of Zaporizhzhia province, told Telegram.
Balitsky also said that the radiation around the facility was normal. All 6 units of the factory are in a state of cold closure. "There was no threat of explosion or any other consequences," he said, adding that firefighters were present at the scene to extinguish the fire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a social media post that Russian forces had caused a fire at Europe's largest nuclear power plant. "Currently, radiation levels are at normal levels," the Ukrainian leader added.
The Ukrainian interior minister said that Kiev is " closely monitoring" the situation from measuring stations near Europe's largest nuclear power plant.
Video released by President Zelensky shows black smoke rising from one of the cooling towers of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with red flames at the foot of the tower.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is located on the east bank of the Dnipro River - a frontline in southern Ukraine.
Ukraine controls the other side of the river and Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of deliberately bombing the plant. Ukraine denies these allegations.
For its part, Kiev accused Moscow of Militarizing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has deployed heavy weapons there since the start of the conflict. Russia's control of the plant is a form of nuclear " blackmail," Ukraine has accused.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with staff stationed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has repeatedly called on all parties to restrain themselves. IAEA fears reckless military action could trigger a major nuclear accident at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.
