Blaze at Nuclear Plant in Ukraine Extinguished

Moscow and Kyiv have traded accusations regarding the cause of a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control. According to Russia’s state news agency Tass, the main fire has been extinguished, as reported by Rosatom, the state-owned nuclear energy company. However, Ukraine’s Energoatom stated that damage occurred to one of the cooling towers and other equipment, emphasizing that the situation remains precarious as long as Russian forces maintain control over the facility. In response to escalating tensions, Russian authorities have initiated evacuations in the Krasnaya Yaruga District, citing threats from “enemy activity” along the border. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov expressed confidence in the military's ability to address the emerging threats. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have repelled attacks from Ukrainian forces in three villages near the border, marking the farthest point of acknowledged incursions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy highlighted the ongoing conflict, noting that Russia has conducted nearly 2,000 cross-border strikes from its Kursk region into Ukraine’s Sumy region over the summer, which he deemed necessitating a “fair” response. The situation escalated further with a recent drone and missile attack on Kyiv, resulting in civilian casualties, including a father and son. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly intercepted 53 drones during the assault. In a related incident, a Ukrainian missile reportedly struck a residential building in Kursk, injuring 15 people, as Russian authorities reported the downing of 35 drones across several regions.