Fears of a catastrophic accident at one of Europe’s largest nuclear power plants escalated on Thursday after fires sparked by repeated shelling led to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia reactor complex being cut off from the country’s electric grid.
Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear power company, said the temporary interruption was the first time the plant had ever been disconnected from the grid. But it added that there were “no concerns” over a full-scale accident after back-up systems kicked in.
Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of conducting artillery shelling in the vicinity of the plant, which is based in the town of Energodar in southern Ukraine. The facility was occupied by Russian forces early in its invasion, which began six months ago, and workers now operate under Russian supervision.