12 August 2024 , 09:11
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Ukraine has accused Russia of deliberately starting a fire at Europe’s largest nuclear power station.
Black smoke was seen rising from a cooling tower at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant which is occupied by Vladimir Putin’s troops.
Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of a blatant stunt over the fire, and said radiation levels appeared normal.
It is believed Russia started the fire by igniting car tyres in the cooling tower to spread alarm.
He wrote on Telegram: ‘We are detecting from Nikopol that the Russian occupiers have lit a fire on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
‘However, so long as the Russian terrorists remain in control of the nuclear power plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal.
‘From the first day Zaporizhzhia NPP was captured, Russia has been only using it to blackmail Ukraine, the whole of Europe and the world.
‘We are waiting for the world’s reaction and for the IAEA’s reaction. Russia should be held accountable for this.
A screen grab from a video released by Volodymyr Zelenskyy shows the fire (Picture: Anadolu via Getty Images)
‘Only Ukraine’s control over the Zaporizhzhia power plant can guarantee a return to normalcy and complete safety.’
Yevhen Yevtushenko, head of the Nikopol district military administration, accused Russia of ‘a provocation or an attempt to create panic’.
Since 2022 the plant has been in Russian hands but under international law it belongs to Ukraine.
Russian propaganda channels alleged Ukraine shelled the plant causing a fire while also claiming there was no danger from increased radiation.
The Putin-appointed governor of occupied Zaporizhia region, Yevgeny Balitsky, alleged the cooling tower fire started due to ‘shelling of the city of Energodar by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.’
‘Currently, all six power units of the station are in cold shutdown, there is no threat of a steam explosion or other consequences,’ he said.
‘The radiation background around the NPP and the city of Energodar is normal.’