Europe’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine on Fire After Shelling
From The Epoch Times By March 3, 2022
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine—the largest nuclear power station in Europe—was on fire early on Friday following shelling from Russia, the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar said.
The plant is located in Enerhodar, a city on the Dnieper River, accounting for one-quarter of the country’s power generation.
Mayor of Enerhodar Dmytro Orlov said on Telegram that Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russian troops, according to a Reuters translation. He noted there had been casualties, without elaborating.
“As a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire,” Orlov said. He said the attack is a threat to world security.
A spokesman for the power plant also announced the fire early Friday.
“As a result of strikes, there is a fire at the nuclear power plant. I repeat: as a result of strikes by Russian Federation forces on the Zaporizhzhia nucler power plant, a fire has erupted,” said Andriy Tuz, spokesperson for Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to a translation by The Associated Press.
He issued a warning saying, “there is a real threat of a nuclear danger” at the power plant. “We demand that they stop the heavy weapons fire at the energy blocks of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” the spokesperson added.
Earlier, Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian troops were stepping up efforts to seize the plant and had entered the town with tanks.
The Epoch Times could not independently verify the information.
The story is developing, please check back for updates.
