Ukraine and Russia have exchanged accusations following a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russian forces started the fire at the plant, which has been under Russian control for over two years. Conversely, the Kremlin-appointed governor of Zaporizhzhia alleged that Ukrainian shelling was responsible.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog reported seeing “strong dark smoke” from the facility but noted that there was “no impact reported” on nuclear safety. This incident coincides with Ukrainian troops making significant advances up to 30 kilometers into Russia, marking the deepest incursion since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Yevgeny Balitsky, the Kremlin-appointed governor of Zaporizhzhia, reported a fire at the plant’s cooling towers, attributing it to Ukrainian shelling but urged calm, noting no radiation spike. President Zelensky also stated there was no detected radiation spike or risk of a nuclear leak, accusing Russia of deliberately starting the fire to “blackmail” Kyiv.
Vladimir Rogov, another Kremlin official, later announced that the fire had been “completely extinguished.” The plant, under Russian control since 2022, has not produced power for over two years, and all six reactors have been in cold shutdown since April.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported “strong dark smoke” from the plant after “multiple explosions” and noted an “alleged drone attack” on one of the cooling towers. The IAEA requested immediate access to assess the damage but found no impact on nuclear safety.
This fire follows President Zelensky’s admission of a cross-border offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have advanced more than 30 kilometers. Thousands of troops are reportedly involved in the operation, which is the deepest raid since the invasion began. Russia has struggled to contain the advance, with over 76,000 people evacuated from Kursk, and emergency trains to Moscow have been arranged for evacuees. Fighting continued over the weekend, and Kursk Governor Aleksei Smirnov reported injuries from what he called a “treacherous” Ukrainian attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled the offensive a “major provocation.”