Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in flames as raging Zelensky accuses Russia of 'blackmail'
Russia has been accused of igniting a huge fire at a nuclear power plant in Ukraine after black smoke was seen pouring out of the Zaporizhzhia facility
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian forces of deliberately starting a massive fire at a nuclear power plant in the south of the country. The incident, which saw black smoke billowing from Europe's largest nuclear power plant, was labelled a "provocation" by Moscow.
Ukrainian officials have shared shocking footage of a towering inferno erupting from a chimney stack at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, located in a Russian-controlled area of southeast Ukraine. Videos making rounds on the internet depict ominous black smoke spewing out of the nuclear site.
The cause of the black clouds is grim, given the repeated warnings about the safety of the nuclear plant and the haunting memory of the Chernobyl disaster for many Ukrainians. Yevhen Yevtushenko, head of Nikopol's military administration, alleged that Russian troops set car tyres alight in the cooling towers of Zaporizhzhia to mimic the appearance of a potentially catastrophic fire.
Zelensky has blamed Russia for using the facility as a bargaining chip against Ukraine and exploiting Western fears about potential escalation, according to Express US reports. "The Russian occupiers started a fire on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," Zelensky posted on Telegram.
"Currently, the radiation indicators are normal. But as long as Russian terrorists retain control over the nuclear plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal. From the first day of the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Russia has been using it purely for blackmailing both Ukraine and the whole of Europe and the world."
However, Russia has pointed the finger at Ukrainian forces. Yevhen Balytskyi, the Russia-appointed governor of the occupied Zaporizhzhia region, accused Ukrainian forces of shelling the plant and causing the fire, but failed to provide any evidence to support his claim.
The plant is the largest nuclear facility in Ukraine and the whole of Europe. Vladimir Rogov, a local official installed by Russia, claimed that the power plant was hit by a "kamikaze drone."
This incident comes six days after Ukraine launched an unexpected military incursion into Russia's Kursk border region. The incursion started on Tuesday, with up to 1,000 troops entering the Kursk region.
This marks the largest attack since Moscow initiated its invasion in 2022.
In a speech on Sunday, Zelenskyy admitted for the first time that his forces were conducting the offensive. The evacuation of civilians living in Russia's border areas with Ukraine continued on Sunday.
Russian state television has reported the establishment of over 20 temporary accommodation centres in Kursk. Meanwhile, a night-time drone and missile strike on Kyiv by Russia resulted in two tragic deaths, including a 4 year old boy.
In a further escalation, Russia initiated an attack on Ukraine with four ballistic missiles and 57 Shahed drones, as per Ukraine's air force. Demonstrating their air defence prowess, they successfully shot down 53 of these drones.
