KYIV: The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility in Ukraine sustained “severe damage” as a result of military operations that resulted in the shutdown of one of its reactors.
Energoatom said on the messaging app Telegram that the strikes on Friday at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the southern Ukraine, Europe’s largest atomic power complex, “significantly damaged” a station hosting a “auxiliary structure” as well as nitrogen and oxygen.
Moscow and Kiev each laid blame for the assault on the other.
According to Energoatom, one of the reactors was forced to shut down due to the strikes, a power line was damaged, and “there are still concerns of releasing hydrogen and radioactive materials, and the danger of a fire is also considerable.” The shelling “has created a significant risk for the plant’s safe functioning.
“Since the beginning of their incursion, Russian forces have been occupying the Zaporizhzhia factory, and Kiev has suspected them of keeping heavy weaponry there.In the meantime, Kiev has been accused of attacking the facility by Moscow.
