Ukraine Reports Rising Radiation Levels at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Russia Claims Levels Are Normal (Update)

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Amid reports that Russian forces attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Ukraine's largest nuclear facility, causing a fire, foreign media report that the Ukrainian side claims radiation levels around the Zaporizhzhia plant are rising. The Russian side denies these claims and states that the fire is being extinguished.

On the 3rd (local time), the Associated Press quoted a Ukrainian government official saying, "Higher-than-normal radiation levels were detected near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant site due to Russian bombardment." Earlier that day, a fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia plant following Russian military strikes, and Ukrainian firefighting authorities reported that they have been unable to attempt extinguishing the fire.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Strategic Communications and Information Security Center issued a statement saying, "Russian forces continue shelling, preventing firefighters from starting to extinguish the nuclear plant fire." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned Russia on Twitter, stating, "If the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant explodes, it would be ten times larger than Chernobyl," and urged, "Russia must immediately stop the bombardment and allow firefighters to enter."

The Russian side refutes the claim of rising radiation levels. Russian state-owned RIA Novosti quoted a Russian military official saying, "Radiation levels at the Zaporizhzhia plant and nearby areas remain normal, and the fire that broke out earlier in administrative buildings is being extinguished."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.