[ad_1]
- Russian and Ukrainian forces are fighting in the vicinity of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, according to multiple reports.
- Livestream footage showed fires near the plant, armored vehicles, and apparent tracer rounds.
- The IAEA urged parties to avoid fighting near the power plant.
Russian forces attacked Europe’s largest nuclear power plant located in Ukraine early Friday morning, according to the Associated Press and Reuters.
In a video posted on Telegram, Andriy Tuz, a spokesperson for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, accused Russia of shelling the facility, which provides a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity.
Reuters reported that Russian forces struck a training building outside of the plant’s perimeter.
“We demand that they stop the heavy weapons fire,” Tuz said, the Associated Press reported.
Tuz later said there was no apparent threat of radiation spreading from the plant, which is reporting safe levels on its website.
—Hugo Kaaman (@HKaaman) March 4, 2022
A video live stream from the plant appeared to show at least one building in flames, as well as intermittent explosions — setting off car alarms in the parking lot — tracer rounds, and a column of armored vehicles outside.
The plant’s reactors are not believed to have been hit.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said on Twitter that Russian forces were “firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia.” He called for an immediate ceasefire to allow firefighters to put out the blazes.
A White House official told CBS News that the situation was discussed on a phone call Thursday night between President Joe Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In a statement earlier on Thursday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, had urged combatants to refrain from fighting near Ukraine’s largest power plant after receiving a letter from local authorities warning that Russian infantry was approaching.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
[ad_2]
Source link
