In a shocking development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of deliberately starting a fire on the premises of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest facility of its kind in Europe. The incident marks a dangerous escalation in the ongoing war between the two countries, as Ukraine retaliates against Russia's full-scale invasion that has entered its third year.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, located within Ukrainian territory, was captured by Russia shortly after their invasion in 2022. While its six nuclear reactors are currently in cold shutdown mode and no nuclear activity was reported on Sunday, the overall risk of a nuclear meltdown remains elevated. President Zelenskyy expressed his concerns, stating that as long as Russian forces maintain control over the plant, the situation cannot be considered normal.

These allegations by Ukraine come as no surprise, considering that Russia has been accused of using the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant for blackmail and manipulation since its seizure. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), highlighted the impact of two years of war on nuclear safety at the facility. Last April, Russia attacked the plant for the first time during the conflict.

The IAEA recently received reports of "strong dark smoke" emanating from the Zaporizhzhia plant, as stated in a post referred to by POLITICO. The incident was reportedly caused by a drone attack on one of the cooling towers. However, the IAEA reassured that there have been no reported impacts on nuclear safety.

In July, the United Nations adopted a resolution demanding that Russia immediately return control of the facility to Ukraine, highlighting the international concern over the situation. Meanwhile, Ukraine has initiated a counteroffensive into Russian territory, specifically targeting Kursk, home to the largest nuclear power plant in the world. The IAEA has called for restraint from all parties involved, in order to prevent a potential nuclear accident with grave radiological consequences.

This latest development serves as a grave reminder of the potential dangers surrounding nuclear facilities in the midst of a conflict. The Chernobyl disaster in 1986, which originated in Ukraine, continues to leave a lasting impact and underscores the importance of nuclear safety and responsible international engagement in such delicate matters.

POLITICO has reached out to Russian authorities for their comments on the allegations made by Ukraine. The world watches anxiously as the tense situation between Russia and Ukraine nears a critical juncture, with the risk of a major nuclear accident dangerously close.