The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine came under Russian fire overnight, causing a disruption of power at the facility, according to the Ukrainian state agency in charge of the plant.
In a statement released on social media on September 21, Enerhoatom said the shelling had damaged equipment of the only working reactor -- Unit Six -- at the plant, Europe’s largest such facility.
"Due to the loss of power, there was an emergency startup of two diesel generators of the safety systems to ensure the operation of the fuel cooling pumps," Enerhoatom said in a post on Telegram.
Russian occupying forces seized control of the plant shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to invade Ukraine on February 24.
The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant has been the focus of concern for months because of fears that shelling could lead to a radiation leak. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the shelling.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of deploying heavy weaponry at the site, knowing Ukraine would likely not fire on it. Moscow denies the allegations but has resisted efforts to demilitarize the area in order to avert an environmental catastrophe.
On September 20 in the nearby Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar, shelling damaged a cooling system, a dining hall for staff, and an unspecified “special building," the city administration said in a statement. There were no further details about the damage.
