Europe’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant on Fire After Shelling

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Foreign Desk News

Russian forces shelled Europe’s largest nuclear plant early Friday, sparking a fire as they pressed their attack on a crucial energy-producing Ukrainian city and gained ground in their bid to cut off the country from the sea.

The world’s leading nuclear authorities saw no immediate cause for alarm about damage to the facility, but the assault triggered a phone call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the U.S. Department of Energy activated its nuclear incident response team as a precaution.

The attack on the eastern city of Enerhodar and its Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant unfolded as the invasion entered its second week and another round of talks between the two sides yielded a tentative agreement to set up safe corridors to evacuate citizens and deliver humanitarian aid.

Nuclear plant spokesman Andriy Tuz told Ukrainian television that shells were falling directly on the facility and had set fire to one of its six reactors. That reactor is under renovation and not operating, but there is nuclear fuel inside, he said.

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Boris Johnson says 'the security of the whole of Europe has been put at risk' by Russia's attack on Ukrainian nuclear power plant as Putin's men spark blaze and seize control of the complex

• Europe's largest nuclear power plant, at Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine, was attacked by Russian troops overnight 
• Gun battle and shelling by Russian forces sparked fire at the complex, with firefighters blocked from going in 
• Flames were eventually doused after several hours, before Russian forces moved in and captured the plant 
• President Zelensky accused Putin of resorting to 'nuclear terror' and risking a catastrophe 'six times worse than Chernobyl', while Boris Johnson said his 'reckless' actions 'threaten the security of the whole of Europe' :snip:

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U.S. Activates Nuclear Incident Response Team As Russia Attacks Ukrainian Nuclear Plant

The United States government activated the Nuclear Incident Response Team in response to Russia’s attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine. However, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm also revealed that the reactors at the facility are being “safely shut down.”

“I just spoke with Ukraine’s energy minister about the situation at the Zaphorizhizia nuclear plant,” Granholm tweeted on Thursday evening. “Russian military operations near the plant are reckless and must cease.”