IAEA experts inspect Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant after fire

Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspected the water cooling tower at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, where a fire broke out on Sunday.

In a statement released on Monday, the agency reported its specialists had found no evidence of burnt tires or an unmanned aerial vehicle at the site.

At this stage, the IAEA experts have been unable to determine the cause of the fire and will conduct further investigations.

The agency also confirmed that radiation levels at the nuclear power plant remained stable. Ukraine and Russia have traded blame for the fire. According to Russian authorities, the fire was caused by a Ukrainian drone strike. Ukraine, on the other hand, accused Russian occupation forces of either deliberately starting the fire or causing it through negligence, potentially involving burning tires.

The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, is located in a region of Ukraine that has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. The plant is currently operated by a Russian-appointed administration. Several IAEA experts are present on-site to monitor the situation.