Europe's largest nuclear power plant located in Ukraine is under attack by the Russian military and a fire has broken out, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted Friday, the latest concerning development in Russia's weeklong invasion of the neighboring country.
"If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl!" the minister said, referring to one of the world's worst nuclear disasters that occurred in 1986 at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union.
Noting that the Russian army is "firing from all sides" upon Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Kuleba also called on Russia for an immediate cease-fire to allow firefighters to deal with the situation.
Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 4, 2022
Ukraine's State Emergency Service said the fire broke out in a training building, according to Reuters. Background radiation levels remain unchanged at the site, Reuters said, citing the RIA news agency.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was aware of reports of shelling at the nuclear power plant in Ukraine and it was in contact with authorities about the situation.
#Ukraine: IAEA is aware of reports of shelling at #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), in contact with Ukrainian authorities about situation.
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) March 4, 2022
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has six reactors and is located in the southeastern part of Ukraine.