The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant burned on August 11, adding tension to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, although both sides reported there were no signs that radiation levels had increased.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - the United Nations' nuclear watchdog organization - said there was thick black smoke rising from the northern area of the plant after multiple explosions occurred. Russian news agencies, including TASS and RIA, quoted sources from Russia's nuclear energy company Rosatom as saying that the main fire was extinguished shortly before midnight on August 11.
The fire took place less than a week after Ukraine launched its largest ever attack on Russian territory. This is an unexpected move, pushing the conflict into a new phase after Russia has achieved many victories on the battlefield in recent weeks.
Energoatom - Ukraine's nuclear power company - announced on the Telegram messaging app that one of the plant's cooling towers and several other equipment were damaged. Russia's TASS news agency also reported that a cooling tower was damaged, citing Rosatom. TASS also quoted a statement from a representative from Russia's Ministry of Local Emergency Situations saying that the damaged tower is an inoperative tower.
Russia seized the Zaporizhzhia plant shortly after the conflict with Ukraine began in 2022. Since then, all six of the plant's nuclear reactors have been in a state of complete shutdown.
As of the morning of August 12, the cause of the fire was still unclear. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of causing the fire. He said the fire could be seen from the city of Nikopol, an area controlled by Ukraine.
Ukraine's Energoatom said that "carelessness" or arson on the part of Russia may have led to the fire, although it did not provide specific evidence. The report also noted that Russia used the plant's cooling towers to store military equipment and explosives.
Evgeny Balitsky - a Russian-appointed official in the southern region of Ukraine - blamed Ukrainian forces for shelling the nearby city of Enerhodar.
Russian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, accused Ukraine of deliberately destroying the plant and committing acts of "nuclear terrorism". In response, President Zelensky released a video showing black smoke rising from a cooling tower with a fire burning at the base of the tower.
The IAEA stated that there were no reports that the fire had affected nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhia plant. In a post on social network X, the IAEA said its team at the plant received notification of a drone attack on one of the facility's cooling towers.
The Zaporizhzhia plant's six reactors, although currently inactive, still depend on external power sources to maintain cooling of nuclear materials, preventing the risk of a catastrophic accident. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine often blame each other for endangering safety around this nuclear power plant .
