Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to AFP.
Both sides said that no spike in radiation levels had been detected around the nuclear power plant, which has been under the control of Russian forces since the early days of the conflict that broke out in Ukraine in February 2022.
"Due to the shelling of the town of Energodar by the Ukrainian armed forces, there was a fire in the cooling system of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant" - Yevgeny Balitsky - pro- Russian governor of Zaporizhzhia province informed on Telegram.
Mr. Balitsky also said that radiation around this facility is normal. All 6 units of the factory are in a cold shutdown state. "There is no threat of a steam explosion or any other consequences," he said, adding that firefighters were at the scene to extinguish the fire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed in a post on social networks that Russian forces caused a fire at Europe's largest nuclear power plant. "Currently, radiation levels are at normal levels," the Ukrainian leader added.
Ukraine's Interior Minister said 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 a red flame at the base of the tower.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is located on the east bank of the Dnipro River - the front line in southern Ukraine.
Ukraine controls the other side of the river and Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of deliberately shelling the factory. Ukraine denies these accusations.
For its part, Kiev accused Moscow of militarizing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant , including placing heavy weapons there since the beginning of the conflict. Russia's control of this plant is a form of nuclear "blackmail", according to Ukraine's accusations.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has staff stationed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, has repeatedly called on all parties to exercise restraint. The IAEA fears reckless military action could cause a major nuclear accident at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.
