Fire breaks out near power units at Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Energoatom reported that a fire broke out near the power units of the plant. According to available information, dry reeds are burning at the site of the Kakhovka reservoir, which was destroyed by Russian forces.

“Today’s incident directly threatens the nuclear, radiation, and fire safety of the plant due to the fire’s proximity to critical infrastructure at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Energoatom emphasized.

photo: Energoatom

Earlier, Ukraine's Ministry of Energy reported the fire.

“Smoke is being observed in the area of the cargo port of the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The exact location of the fire and its possible consequences are currently being determined,” the statement says.

The Ministry of Energy noted that the cargo port is located outside the plant’s secured perimeter.

The ministry emphasized that this incident once again serves as a reminder of the threats created by the Russian occupation of the largest nuclear facility in Europe.

“The constant deployment by Russian troops of their equipment and personnel on the territory of the ZNPP, as well as the continuous psychological pressure on the plant’s Ukrainian staff, is a gross violation of international law and the fundamental principles of nuclear safety,” the Ministry of Energy stressed.

The agency stressed that any provocations or military actions on the industrial site of the Zaporizhzhia NPP could lead to unpredictable and catastrophic consequences.

“The only path to restoring nuclear safety is the immediate and complete demilitarization and de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the return of the plant to the full control of its legitimate operator — the Ukrainian state enterprise Energoatom,” the ministry added.

Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, said that it is currently unknown whether there is a threat to the ZNPP. According to him, extinguishing the fire in this area is complicated by the dense mining of the shoreline.

Ukraine denies Russian accusations of causing the fire

The Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) has rejected Russian manipulations surrounding the fire near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

According to the CCD, Russian propagandists are actively spreading false claims that Ukrainian forces shelled the plant, causing the fire. However, official sources have not confirmed these accusations.

“These manipulations are part of a Russian disinformation campaign aimed at blaming Ukraine for provocations and shifting responsibility for nuclear security threats ahead of the upcoming talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The ongoing presence of Russian troops at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, along with psychological pressure on Ukrainian staff, violates international norms and could have unpredictable consequences for all of Europe,” the CCD stressed.

• On August 10, Russian shelling damaged the External Crisis Center of the ZNPP, which is a key element of the plant’s safety system and provides monitoring of the radiation situation.