Powerful explosions rocked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine on the weekend, renewing concerns that fighting so close to the facility could cause a nuclear accident.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said whoever was responsible for the attacks was “playing with fire,” reiterating a warning he made in September.
IAEA experts at the plant said more than a dozen blasts were heard within a short period of time Sunday morning local time, the nuclear watchdog said in a statement. Shelling was observed both near and at the site of the facility. IAEA officials could even see some explosions from their windows, the nuclear watchdog said.
“Whoever is behind this, it must stop immediately,” Grossi added.
Based on information provided by the plant management, the IAEA team said there had been damage to some buildings, systems and equipment at the plant’s site, “but none of them so far critical for nuclear safety and security,” the agency said. There were no reports of casualties.
Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for the attacks.
