Fire at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

On August 11, tensions escalated as Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of igniting a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, currently under Russian occupation. Both sides reported no signs of elevated radiation levels following the incident. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitors the facility, confirmed the presence of strong smoke and multiple explosions in the northern area of the plant, urging an immediate cessation of hostilities without assigning blame. Russian state media reported that the fire, allegedly started by a drone attack on a cooling tower, was extinguished shortly before midnight. The Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom provided this information, although no evidence was presented to support the claim. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Energoatom reported damage to one of the cooling towers and other equipment, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with the facility. The IAEA reassured that there had been no reported impact on nuclear safety at the site, where the six reactors remain in cold shutdown. The plant, captured by Russia shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, relies on external power to maintain cooling systems essential for preventing a nuclear disaster. Both Moscow and Kyiv have a history of blaming each other for jeopardizing safety at the plant, which is situated near the front lines of the ongoing conflict.