A fire erupted at a cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, situated in the Zaporizhzhia region under the control of Russian forces, leading to a blame game between Kyiv and Moscow. Both Ukraine and Russia, along with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed that there has been no significant increase in radiation levels or impact on nuclear safety.

According to Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed governor of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, the fire was a result of shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces in the town of Energodar. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media, accusing Russian occupiers of deliberately starting the fire at the plant as a means of "blackmailing" Kyiv.

Despite the tensions, both Balitsky and the facility's press service reported that radiation levels in and around the plant remained normal. The IAEA, which has experts stationed at the site, stated that no impact on nuclear safety had been reported. However, they mentioned witnessing dark smoke and multiple explosions from the northern area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

In response to the incident, Zelensky demanded that Russia be held accountable, emphasizing that only Ukrainian control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant could ensure a return to normalcy and guarantee complete safety. Kyiv's interior minister assured that they were closely monitoring radiation levels from nearby meteorological stations.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with all six units currently in cold shutdown, is strategically located on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river, which serves as a de facto front line between Ukraine and Russia. Russia gained control of the plant shortly after launching its military offensive in February 2022. While Russia has accused Ukrainian forces of intentionally shelling the nuclear plant, Ukraine has denied such claims and accused Moscow of militarizing the facility.

The IAEA has repeatedly urged caution, expressing concerns that reckless military actions could potentially trigger a major nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia power plant. Efforts are underway to extinguish the fire, with firefighters deployed to the site.

As both Kyiv and Moscow trade blame, the international community remains on high alert, emphasizing the importance of de-escalation and maintaining the safety and integrity of nuclear facilities in the region. The situation continues to develop, and further updates are expected as investigations into the cause of the fire at the cooling tower progress.