Ukraine narrowly escapes nuclear catastrophe as plant loses power, Zelenskiy says – Reuters

Russian artillery fire over the region of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine caused a fire in an ash pond, cutting off the reactor complex from the electrical grid. Back-up diesel generators provided power crucial to the plant’s cooling and safety systems.

A Russian official in the occupied city of Enerhodar has accused Ukrainian Armed Forces of starting a forest fire close to the plant, which caused power lines to be disconnected. The UN is seeking access to the plant and has called for demilitarisation of the region.

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of firing at the site, raising fears of a nuclear meltdown. A meltdown at the Zaporizhzhia facility could kill hundreds or thousands of people and harm a far larger area.

Russia’s ground campaign in Ukraine has been on hold for the past few months, but the battle continues in the south and east.

Russia said its forces struck an eastern Ukrainian rail station on Wednesday, killing 200 Ukrainian service members, validating an attack that Kiev said killed 25 civilians. Ukraine said its air force had carried out strikes in two separate locations in areas where troops and weapons were concentrated.

Russian media reported that Ukrainian forces used HIMARS multi-rocket launchers to attack the city of Stakhanov, while the Ukrainian military said its forces had repulsed Russian attacks on the towns of Bakhmutsk and Soledar.

President Vladimir Putin signed an order on Thursday increasing Russia’s military force size from 1.9 million to 2.04 million, saying it was to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine.

For more coverage on this story, check the following additional news sources:

1. Ukraine narrowly escapes nuclear catastrophe as plant loses power, Zelenskiy says  Reuters
2. Security systems active at Ukrainian nuclear plant, say Russia – BBC News  BBC News
3. Russia’s war in Ukraine: Live updates  CNN
4. Power cut to Russian-held nuclear plant restored  Reuters
5. Zaporizhzhia Plant Disconnected From Power Grid by Russia, Ukraine Says  Newsweek