The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported thick black smoke coming out of the northern area of the six-reactor plant, while the Interfax news agency reported that the fire burned for roughly three hours and led to what Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev characterized as “very serious damage” to the reactor’s cooling towers.
Likhachev claimed that the fire was caused by a pair of Ukrainian drone strikes, and the nuclear power plant’s director, Yury Chernichuk, claimed that the drones had been carrying a type of incendiary liquid that can accelerate the spread of fires.
He told journalists that the fire did not cause any damage to the concrete structure's integrity, but it did destroy some of the plastic elements housed inside of it. He explained that the drones came into the tower from above it and then detonated and believes they were carrying something akin to napalm or petroleum to help the fires spread quickly.
Monitors from the IAEA have already taken a tour of the location. It is in Russia’s Zaporizhian region, which Ukraine claims sovereignty over.
Nuclear reactors placed in cold shutdown
The facility's Russian managers have placed all six of the reactors into a cold shutdown so that the loss of the tower does not cause additional threats. Russia reports that the Ukrainian military is regularly attacking the area, and some of its attacks have had a direct impact on the nuclear site.
Likhachov said the attack was unprecedented, noting: “This level of targeted aggression against the infrastructure of an atomic facility – that never happened before.”
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi drew attention to the potential for a nuclear accident given the back-and-forth between the two sides in the area, warning: “These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now.”
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of causing the fire, and Ukraine's Energoatom believes it could have arisen from arson or negligence. They claim Russia had been using the cooling towers for storing their military explosives and other equipment.
"Currently, the radiation indicators are normal. But as long as Russian terrorists retain control over the nuclear plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal," Zelensky said.
IAEA isn't taking sides
The IAEA chose not to take sides or identify who they believe caused the incident on the grounds that they need to engage both sides when it comes to nuclear safety matters. However, the Russian foreign ministry criticized this policy and is urging the IAEA to reconsider its approach. The agency maintains a team of observers at the nuclear site.
Zaporizhzhia governor Yevgeny Balitsky said they have not detected any spikes in radiation around the plant; the Ukrainian side has shared a similar assessment and believes there is no danger of a nuclear leak. The fire has now been completely extinguished.
The fire came just one day after Zelensky admitted for the first time that his military has been carrying out a cross-border offensive within Russia’s Kursk region.
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