After Russia opened artillery shelling, a fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor in the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Enerhodar. Andriy Tuz, a spokesperson for the nuclear station, informed Ukrainian television that shells were dropping straight on the complex, setting fire to one of its six reactors.

That reactor is now undergoing maintenance and is not operational, but he says there is nuclear fuel inside. According to a plant spokesperson, Russian soldiers have begun shelling Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine. "The plant is now on fire," Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov said on Friday morning.

"The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire as a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of Europe's largest nuclear power plant," Mayor Dmytro Orlov said. A second fire broke out beyond the boundary of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to a statement from the Ukrainian emergency services.

"The Russian army is firing from all sides on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. Tuz said, "We demand that they (Russia) cease firing heavy weapons." He went on to say, "There is a real threat of nuclear risk at Europe's largest atomic energy station."

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is Europe's largest and one of the top 10 nuclear power plants in the world. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, says that President Putin's "reckless actions might now directly jeopardise the safety of all of Europe." The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the other hand, has reported that it has spoken with Ukrainian leadership and has been advised that "essential" plant equipment is still operational.

"Ukraine informs the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant site has not impacted vital equipment, and plant workers are implementing measures to mitigate," the agency stated.

Attack at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has brought back the harrowing memories of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The still radioactive Chernobyl nuclear plant is the site of world’s worst nuclear accident ever that took place in 1986.  

Chernobyl nuclear plant is located only 130 kilometers north of Kyiv.  The fourth reactor at Chernobyl, located 108 km north of the Kyiv, exploded in April 1986 during a botched safety test.  The explosion sent clouds of radiation billowing across much of Europe and reaching the eastern United States. 

Macron declares his candidacy for re-election to the presidency

Ukraine- Russia Tention: At UNHRC session, India calls for immediate cessation of violence

Inflation hit general public! Edible oil became costlier by 30% in 5 days