ORODYANKA / LVIV, Ukraine, March 4 (Reuters) – A fire broke out in a training facility outside Europe’s largest nuclear power plant during fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops, Ukrainian paramedics said on Friday.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said there was no indication of high levels of radiation in the Zaporizhzhia industry, which provides more than one-fifth of all electricity generated in Ukraine.
There have been fierce fighting 550 kilometers (342 miles) southeast of Kyiv, the mayor of the nearby city of Energodar said in an online post. He said there had been deaths, without giving details.
“As a result of the ongoing enemy bombing of buildings and units of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire,” said Mayor Dmytro Orlov at his Telegram station.
Russia has already captured the extinct Chernobyl plant, about 60 miles [100 km] north of Kyiv, which spewed radioactive waste into much of Europe when it melted in 1986. The Zaporizhzhia plant is a unique and safe species, say some analysts.
Earlier reports of an incident in the power plant sent financial markets to Asia to stabilize, falling shares and rising oil prices.
US President Joe Biden has spoken with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a review of the institution.
“President Biden has joined President Zelenskiy in urging Russia to suspend its military operations in the region and to allow firefighters and paramedics to enter the area,” the White House said.
Surveillance camera footage shows the arrival of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during the bombing of Enerhodar, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine March 4, 2022, in this video screen from a video found on social media. Zaporizhzhya NPP via YouTube / REUTERS
Energy Secretary Granholm said on Twitter that Zaporizhzhia reactors are “protected by solid materials” and “securely shut down”.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russian troops were “shooting in all directions” at the base.
“The fire is already on fire … The Russians must stop MASIPHO, allow firefighters, and establish a safe haven!” write on Twitter.
The International Atomic Energy Agency wrote on Twitter that it was “aware of reports of bombings” in the area of electricity and was in contact with Ukrainian authorities.
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With the European invasion since World War II entered its ninth day, thousands are thought to have died or been injured, 1 million refugees have fled Ukraine and the Russian economy has been rocked by international sanctions.
The United States and Britain announced sanctions against other Russian oligarchs on Thursday, following EU action, as they stepped up pressure on the Kremlin.
Additional companies including Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google, the Nike shoe giant and the Swedish domestic furniture company IKEA closed or reduced operations in Russia as trade restrictions and supply chain issues added to the political pressure. Learn more
Punishment “has already had a profound effect,” Biden said.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” not intended to take over but to overthrow a democratically elected government, to undermine the military might of its neighbors and to seize what it sees as dangerous nationalist extremists. It denies that it is directed at people.