BORODYANKA / LVIV, Ukraine, March 4 – Ukraine’s Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, was set on fire early Friday after an attack by Russian troops, the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar said. .
There have been fierce fighting between local forces and Russian troops, Dmitry Orlov said in an online post, adding that there were casualties without giving details.
Earlier, Ukrainian authorities said Russian troops were stepping up efforts to take over the plant and had entered the city in tanks.
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“As a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and blocks of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is on fire,” Orlov told his Telegram channel, citing what he called a threat to global security. He did not give details.
Reuters could not immediately verify the information, including the potential severity of the fire.
The invasion of Ukraine enters its ninth day. Thousands are estimated to have died or been injured as the biggest attack on a European country since World War II took place, creating 1 million refugees, hitting Russia’s economy and fearing a wider conflict in the West unthinkable in decades.
Russia has already taken over the decommissioned Chernobyl power plant, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
On Thursday, the United States and Britain announced sanctions against more oligarchs, followed by EU action as they stepped up pressure on the Kremlin.
Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov, founder of the mining company Metalloinvest, is included.
Visa restrictions will be imposed on 19 Russian oligarchs, members of their families and associates, the White House said.
The sanctions “already had a profound effect,” said US President Joe Biden.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” designed not to occupy territory but to destroy its neighbor’s military capabilities and capture dangerous nationalists. It denies targeting civilians.
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Report by Pavel Polityuk, Natalia Zinets, Alexander Vasovich in Ukraine, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and other Reuters offices; Writing by Costas Pitas; Edited by Daniel Wallis and Rosalba O’Brien
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