Europe’s largest nuclear plant suffers fire after Russian attack, says local mayor

the nuclear plant ukrainian of Zaporizhia, the largest of its kind in Europe, was affected by a fire in the early hours of Friday, after an attack by troops Russiansaid the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar.

Dmytro Orlov said in an online post that there was heavy fighting between local forces and Russian troops, adding that there were casualties, without giving details.

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian troops were redoubling their efforts to capture the plant and had entered the town with tanks.

“As a result of the continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of the largest nuclear plant in Europe, Zaporizhia is on fire,” Orlov said on his Telegram channel, referring to what he called a global security threat. He did not provide further details.

Reuters could not immediately verify the information, including the potential severity of the fire.

The invasion of Ukraine is entering its ninth day. Thousands are believed to be dead or injured as the biggest attack on a European state since World War II unfolds, creating a million refugees, a harsh shock to the Russian economy and fears of a wider conflict with the West unthinkable for decades. .

Russia has already captured the crippled Chernobyl power plant, some 100 kilometers north of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.

On Thursday, the United States and the United Kingdom announced sanctions against more oligarchs, aligning themselves with the measures adopted by the European Union and increasing pressure on the Kremlin.

One of those affected is the Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov, founder of the Metalloinvest mining company.

Visa restrictions will be placed on 19 Russian oligarchs, their families and associates, the White House said.

The sanctions have already “had a profound impact,” US President Joe Biden said.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” that is not designed to occupy territory, but to destroy its neighbor’s military capabilities and capture what it sees as dangerous nationalists. He denies targeting civilians.