"Ukraine and Russia Exchange Blame for Fire at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Amid Deepest Incursion Since Invasion"

 Ukraine and Russia have exchanged accusations following a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russian forces, who have occupied the plant for over two years, started the fire. In contrast, the Kremlin-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia, Yevgeny Balitsky, attributed the blaze to Ukrainian shelling.

The UN's nuclear watchdog reported observing "strong dark smoke" coming from the facility but confirmed that there was "no impact reported" on nuclear safety.

This incident coincides with significant developments on the battlefield, as Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 30 kilometers into Russian territory—the deepest incursion since Moscow's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Balitsky reported the fire at the plant’s cooling towers and urged calm, noting no radiation spikes. Zelensky, however, accused Russia of deliberately starting the fire as a form of "blackmail" against Kyiv. Early on Monday, Kremlin official Vladimir Rogov announced that the fire had been "completely extinguished."

The Zaporizhzhia plant, under Russian control since 2022, has not been operational for over two years, with all six reactors in cold shutdown since April. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted "strong dark smoke" and reported an "alleged drone attack" on one of the cooling towers but assured that there was no reported impact on nuclear safety. The IAEA has requested immediate access to the site to assess the damage.

The fire comes a day after Zelensky confirmed a Ukrainian military offensive into Russia's Kursk region. In his address on Saturday, Zelensky acknowledged that Ukrainian forces were pushing into "the aggressor's territory," marking a significant escalation. A Ukrainian official revealed that thousands of troops were involved in this operation, far exceeding initial Russian reports.

Russia has faced challenges in countering the Ukrainian advance, leading to the evacuation of over 76,000 people from the Kursk region, where a state of emergency has been declared. Emergency trains have been arranged for those fleeing to Moscow. The conflict appears to be ongoing, with Kursk Governor Aleksei Smirnov reporting injuries from what he described as a "treacherous" Ukrainian attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled the offensive a "major provocation."