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04th Mar 2022

Blaze extinguished at Europe’s biggest nuclear plant following Russian invasion

Sarah McKenna Barry

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Russian troops committed a “terror attack” by causing the fire.

A fire that broke out at Europe’s largest nuclear plant – the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine – has been extinguished.

According to CNN, the fire occurred after Russian forces fired at a training building outside of the main complex yesterday.

Firefighters worked on getting the fire under control and it was extinguished this morning. In a telegram, Ukraine’s State Emergency Services said that there were no injuries or deaths recorded.

Jennifer Granholm, who is the US Energy Secretary, said that there is no indication of elevated radiation levels at the plant.

It’s understood fighting had temporarily ceased following the fire.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Russian troops committed a “terror attack” by causing the fire, and he added that it put millions of lives at risk.

The post read: “Russian tanks, equipped with thermal imagery, are shooting at the atomic blocks. They know what they are shooting at. They’ve been preparing for this (attack).”

He added: “Our guys are keeping the atomic power station secure.”

President Zelensky went on: “There are 15 nuclear reactors in Ukraine. If one of them blows, that’s the end for everyone, that’s the end of Europe. All of Europe will have to evacuate.

“No country besides Russia has ever fired upon an atomic power plant’s reactors. The first time, the first time in history.”

He then called upon European leaders to stop Russian forces before the situation becomes a “nuclear disaster”.

President Joe Biden and the UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson have already discussed the situation with Zelensky. They have called for Russia to cease their military actions.

Johnson has said that he will seek an Emergency United Nations Security Council meeting soon where the UK will raise their concerns with Russia.