No Radiation Released From Ukraine Nuclear Plant Targetted By Russia: UN Atomic Agency

The attack started a fire, which was quickly put out. According to Rafael Mariano Grossi, two persons on the site were hurt in the incident.

International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: The chief of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said there was no release of radiation at the Ukrainian nuclear plant that was targeted by Russia on Friday, AP reported.

On Friday, Russian military forces seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest nuclear plant, located southeast of Ukraine. Russia took control over the plant after shelling the facility, sparking a fire and raising fears that radiation could leak from the damaged power station.

International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi said the agency was in touch with the Ukrainian nuclear regulator and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station.

Grossi said the building hit by a Russian "projectile" at the Zaporizhzhia plant was "not part of the reactor" but instead a training center at the plant, AP reported.

The attack started a fire, which was quickly put out. Grossi said two persons on the site were hurt in the incident. Nuclear officials from Sweden and China said no radiation spikes had been reported.

The attack caused worldwide concern, evoking memories of the world's worst nuclear disaster at Ukraine's Chernobyl. The United States called Moscow's attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant a "war crime".

Grossi said just one reactor was functioning at around 60% capacity. Despite Russia's claims, Grossi said that the Ukrainians were in charge of the reactor.

The attack prompted widespread worry in the immediate aftermath, when the possibility of a radioactive leak was unclear, and invoked memories of the world's worst nuclear accident, at Ukraine's Chernobyl.

Faced with international outrage over the strike, Russia attempted to divert blame over the incident.

Igor Konashenkov, a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, blamed arson rather than artillery fire without providing proof.

He stated that a Ukrainian "sabotage group" captured the plant's training facility, opened fire on a Russian patrol, and set fire to the structure as they fled.

Earlier, there had been contradictory reports about which parts of the Zaporizhzhia complex had been hit, with one official claiming that shells had fallen straight on the plant and set fire to a non-operational reactor as well as a training building.

Grossi later revealed that the fire had started at the training centre.

The uncertainty highlighted the risks of active conflict near a nuclear power station.

Concerns of a nuclear disaster or radioactive discharge surfaced for the second time since the Russian invasion began a little over a week ago, following a fight near Chernobyl.

(With AP Inputs)