Russian troops seize a nuclear power plant in Ukraine after shelling sparked fire

Russian forces took control of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant on Friday after shelling sparked a fire and fears of a meltdown.

The fire at the Zaporizhzhia plant in southeastern Ukraine was extinguished early Friday, but not before spreading fears of catastrophic consequences across the continent.

The crisis came as Russian forces were making advances in the south of the country and Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis was worsening, with residential areas increasingly besieged despite some progress in talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, already raising the specter of nuclear war over Europe, escalated his attack on his democratic neighbor as he deepened his crackdown on dissent at home.

Latest developments on Ukraine:

• Russian troops seized Europe’s largest nuclear power plant after shelling started a fire.
• Ukraine and Russia tentatively agreed to create humanitarian corridors that would allow safe evacuation of civilians.
• Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov warned that the situation was at a “tipping point”.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin stepped up his crackdown on dissent and war reporting.

The fire at the power plant, which broke out after fierce fighting between Russian troops and Ukrainian forces, was extinguished several hours after it caused alarms in world capitals.

Ukrainian authorities said Russian troops “occupied” the site.

The state nuclear regulatory agency said the fire was concentrated in a building identified as a training center and that there was some damage to the No. 1 reactor compartment, but the safety of the unit was unaffected.

the This was announced by the International Atomic Energy Agency No “essential” equipment was damaged, and both Kyiv and Washington said there was no evidence of a rise in radiation levels.

The worst nuclear disaster in the world happened in Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986. Also this place is now occupied by Russian forces.

In an emotional video speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of targeting the Zaporizhia power plant.

“They know where they are shooting,” he said in a message published on Telegram.

“If there is an explosion, it will be the end for all of us. The end of Europe. The evacuation of Europe.”

President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Zelenskyy about the incident, both urging Russia to halt military activity in the region so firefighters and rescue workers could get to the scene.