UPDATE: The fire at Europe's largest nuclear plant extinguished. According to CNN, dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze which started in a training building outside the main reactor complex of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant following an attack by Russian troops.
Ukraine's State Emergency Services (SES) said in a statement on Telegram Friday morning and "There are no dead or injured."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of intentionally firing on the plant. Zelensky said in the post, "Russian tanks are shooting at the atomic blocks equipped with thermal imagers. They know what they are shooting at. They've been preparing for this (attack)" and added, "...our guys are keeping the atomic power station secure."
He added, "No country besides Russia has ever fired upon an atomic power plant's reactors. The first time, the first time in history."
Original story: As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, the largest nuclear power in Europe is reportedly under attack.
Watch: Russian troops shell Europe’s largest nuclear power station in Enerhodar, Ukraine. The plant accounts for about one quarter of Ukraine’s power generation https://t.co/m6KNcUrnFA pic.twitter.com/m0X0B5zO0F
— TIME (@TIME) March 4, 2022
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station is located in Enerhodar, Ukraine, in the southern portion of the country that has seen Russian troops moving in.
Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is on fire in Ukraine as Russian forces attack. pic.twitter.com/vHFEHj1jf6
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 4, 2022
According to Fox News, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Mariano Grossi called the situation at the power plant "critical," and urged military units to avoid combat in the area.
"The IAEA continues to consult with Ukraine and others with a view to provide maximum possible assistance to the country as it seeks to maintain nuclear safety and security in the current difficult circumstances," Grossi said in a statement.
The Ukrainian Minster of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba urged the Russians to cease fire, warning that if the power plant blows up, "it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl."
Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 4, 2022
Ukraine’s deputy interior minister also echoed concerns of a resulting massive radioactive disaster, writing in a translated Facebook post, "Because of [Vladimir] Putin’s madness, Europe is again on the brink of a nuclear disaster."
Nuclear specialists say that the biggest actual concern is that radiation may leak as a result of the fire. There is no risk of meltdown.
The actual nuclear specialists are coming out of the woodwork to say that no, it would not be a marvel-movie-style explosion. Yes, it's bad — fuel could leak. But let's not retweet gov't pronouncements uncritically. It's a different kind of reactor than Chernobyl. pic.twitter.com/udyigaEWk8
— Ilya Lozovsky (@ichbinilya) March 4, 2022
Firefighters have been granted access to the site
BREAKING: Firefighters gain access to nuclear power plant in Ukraine, where an administrative building is on fire - ZN
— BNO News (@BNONews) March 4, 2022
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
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