(Picture: REUTERS)
Fears are rising about the safety of a nuclear power plant in Russia after a Ukrainian attack overnight.
A fire broke out at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant after military forces shot down what they claimed was a Ukrainian drone flying near the site.
The ‘device detonated’ upon impact, sparking a blaze which the facility said ‘was extinguished by fire crews,’ authorities in Kursk said in a statement.
It added: ‘A combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was shot down by air defence systems near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.
‘Upon impact, the drone detonated, resulting in damage to an auxiliary transformer.’
Radiation levels are understood to be within the normal range after the fire was put out.
Alexander Khinshtein, the regional acting governor, blamed Ukraine for the strikes in a post on Telegram, adding: ‘They are a threat to nuclear safety and a violation of all international conventions.’
The incident marks one of the most serious escalations in the targeting of energy facilities, fueling anxiety about fighting creeping dangerously close to nuclear assets.
Ukraine’s drone strike on Kursk was one of several reported overnights by Russian authorities.
Firefighters were also sent to an explosion and a fire at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s Leningrad region, which holds a large fuel export terminal.
The regional governor said about 10 Ukrainian drones were brought down and debris had sparked the fire.
Ukraine has not commented on the Russian accusations.
Putin ‘playing Russian roulette’ with nuclear sites
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly warned of the dangers in the three-and-a-half-year war, starting with Russia’s capture of Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine’s northern Kyiv region.
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia power plant – the largest in Europe – is also under Russian occupation since March 2022.
The IAEA has stressed the site is in danger from frequent shelling in the area and the lack of experienced operators.
Walter Clemens, an associate at Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, has previously stressed that the Kremlin is ‘playing Russian roulette’ with Ukraine’s nuclear plants.
He said: ‘The fates of the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia plants reveal the careless behavior of Russian officials and their indifference to human life.
‘Another disaster like Chernobyl would again imperil Belarus and much of Europe as well as Ukraine and parts of Russia.
‘Putin’s threats to employ nuclear weapons in Ukraine, and against targets in NATO countries, may be bluffs, but the behavior of Russian authorities at Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia reinforces the image of idiotic sadism in the Kremlin and throughout its armed forces.
‘The IAEA has no way to enforce its appeals, the UN Security Council is paralyzed by great power vetoes and the UN General Assembly is weakened by the many delegations reluctant to anger their hoped-for benefactor in Moscow.’
King Charles congratulates Ukraine on Independence Day
Ukraine’s drone attack comes as the war-torn country also marks the 34th anniversary of the declaration of independence.
The UK government confirmed that Ukrainian flags will fly above Downing Street in recognition, and King Charles has sent the people of Ukraine his ‘warmest and most sincere wishes’.
Volodymyr Zelensky shared the letter from the monarch on X, saying that the King’s ‘kind words are a true inspiration for our people during the difficult time of war’.
The letter read: ‘I keep feeling the greatest and deepest admiration for the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people.
‘I remain hopeful that our countries will be able to further work closely together to achieve a just and lasting peace.’
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