Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant reports attack by Ukrainian army

MOSCOW

The Ukrainian army carried out artillery fire against the critical infrastructure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, the largest plant in Europe, the plant's management announced via social media early Thursday.

Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia plant in March 2022, soon after the start of the Ukraine war.

"An explosive was thrown into the area behind the diesel fuel tanks," according to the statement that claimed artillery fire was fired against the plant’s critical infrastructure.

The severity of the situation was underlined in the statement, which read, "If they hit the tanks, this could lead to very grave consequences."

The power plant’s six nuclear reactors produce 5.7 gigawatt-hours of capacity, providing 20% of Ukraine’s total electricity needs.

*Writing by Zeynep Beyza Kilic