Risk of leak at Ukraines Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant: Operator | Russia-Ukraine war News [Video]

Ukraine’s state energy operator said there is a risk of radioactive leakage at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is Europe’s largest nuclear facility and currently under occupation by Russian troops.

Energoatom said on Saturday that Russian forces had “repeatedly shelled” the site in southern Ukraine over the past day, while the Russian defence ministry countered by accusing Ukrainian forces of launching attacks on the plant.

“As a result of periodic shelling, the infrastructure of the station has been damaged, there are risks of hydrogen leakage and sputtering of radioactive substances, and the fire hazard is high,” Energoatom said on Telegram.

The agency said that as of midday on Saturday (09:00 GMT) the plant “operates with the risk of violating radiation and fire safety standards”.

Authorities began distributing iodine tablets on Friday to residents who live near the plant in case of a radiation leak.

Russia’s defence ministry said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had shelled the grounds of the nuclear facility in the last 24 hours.

“A total …