In a disturbing turn of events, a fire erupted at a cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, triggering a blame game between Kyiv and Moscow. The plant, which has been under the control of Russian forces, remains a source of tension between the two neighboring countries.

Both Ukrainian and Russian authorities quickly assured the public that there had not been any significant increase in radiation levels surrounding the power station. It should be noted that this nuclear power plant has been under Russian control since the early days of its military offensive in the region.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed governor of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, attributed the fire to shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces on the nearby town of Energodar. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media, claiming that "Russian occupiers have started a fire" at the plant.

Despite the conflicting accounts, Balitsky also confirmed that the radiation levels around the facility remained within normal limits. Ukraine's interior minister stated that they were closely monitoring the situation from nearby meteorological stations.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, known as Europe's largest nuclear power station, currently has all six of its units in cold shutdown, according to Balitsky. He reassured the public that there was no risk of a steam explosion or other consequences, as firefighters were actively engaged in combating the blaze.

A video shared by President Zelensky depicted thick black smoke billowing out of one of the cooling towers, while fiery flames danced around its base. The power plant is situated on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river, which serves as a de facto frontline dividing southern Ukraine.

Accusations have been flying between the two sides for some time. Ukraine has alleged that Russia has militarized the facility, even deploying heavy weaponry at the onset of the conflict. In response, Russia has accused Ukraine of deliberately shelling the power plant, claims that Ukraine vehemently denies.

International concern has also been raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has staff stationed at the Zaporizhzhia facility. The IAEA has consistently called for restraint, fearing that any reckless military action could potentially trigger a catastrophic nuclear accident at the plant.

As the blame game continues, it remains to be seen how this incident will further escalate tensions and impact the security of the region.