Ukrainian officials and international specialists have issued warnings about the potential disaster following large explosions at a nuclear power facility, which have been a worry for months of combat between Kyiv and Moscow forces in southern Ukraine.
An international nuclear watchdog warned that the situation was getting more dangerous after the biggest explosions of its kind in Europe were said to have occurred at the Zaporizhzhia facility on Friday, as reported by CNN.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have accused one another of bombarding the plant, which Russian soldiers seized, and the town of Enerhodar, wherein the facility is situated, in early March.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for the assault and referred to the strikes as a "brazen crime" and an "act of terror."
He stated in his nightly speech on Friday that Russian forces had "created another extremely risky situation for everyone in Europe."
Energoatom, Ukraine's state-run nuclear power company, claimed that Russian forces had attacked the Zaporizhzhia plant and were using it as a staging area for attacks on surrounding targets. Many were in the nearby Ukrainian-controlled city of Nikopol and the seized city of Enerhodar.
The Ukrainians, according to the Russian military ministry, had fired three artillery shots at the factory and its vicinity. The ministry also stated that power was interrupted to another unit at the plant and that one unit's generating capacity had been lowered.
The international community expressed concern about a potential nuclear catastrophe in the early stages of the conflict when battle initially erupted close to the site.
Nuclear Facility Sustains Serious Damage
According to Ukrainian nuclear officials, the Russian military seized the plant on March 5 and had its managers work "at gunpoint." A week later, the Kremlin dispatched representatives and workers from Russia's national nuclear organization to assist with management and repairs at the facility.
Since then, Ukrainian and Russian employees have been coworkers, and their connection with the outside world has been sporadic.
Energoatom reported on Friday that Russian shelling had destroyed a water intake facility and struck the nuclear complex itself, cutting off water and electricity to a large portion of Enerhodar, per BBC.
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According to Enerhoatom, "there is a possibility of hydrogen leaking and radioactive particle dispersion."
The Ukrainian workers at the plant remained in Russia. The factory and its surroundings, which are close to Ukrainian-held territory, are under Russian control. It houses radioactive waste and has six pressurized water reactors.
Concerned about Russia's strategies there, the West have raised the alarm.
Ukrainian military shelled the plant twice on Friday, according to the Russian-appointed officials in Enerhodar, "from the opposite bank of the Dnieper."
In their statement, the nationalists claimed that the second time the nationalists "managed to hit the target - shells landed in the plant's industrial site."
US To Supply Ukraine More Weapons
In other updates, CNA reported that three sources briefed on the situation told Reuters that the next shipment of weaponry from the United States to Ukraine was anticipated to be one of the largest so far, which costs $1 billion.
According to the sources, if signed as written, it will also contain armored medical transport trucks and ammunition for long-range weaponry.
The plan, which would add to the approximately $8.8 billion in help the United States has provided Ukraine since Russia's invasion on February 24, is anticipated to be unveiled as early as Monday.
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