IAEA Seeks Access After Zaporizhzhia Plant Fire

A fire broke out at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, with both Ukraine and Russia blaming each other for the incident. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of using the plant to blackmail Ukraine and the world, while Russian officials claimed the fire was caused by Ukrainian shelling. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported witnessing thick, dark smoke and explosions but confirmed that radiation levels remained normal and there was no immediate threat to nuclear safety. The fire, reportedly caused by a drone strike on a cooling tower, has been extinguished. The Zaporizhzhia plant, under Russian control since 2022, has had its reactors in cold shutdown and has not produced power for over two years. The IAEA has called for immediate access to assess the damage and reiterated that any military action against the plant is a severe risk to nuclear safety.