A fire at a substation near a nuclear power plant in Ukraine has raised concerns about the safety of nuclear facilities during wartime. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the incident occurred at a substation that provides external power to the plant, though it did not specify which plant was affected.
The IAEA stated that the fire did not directly impact the nuclear reactor, but it highlighted the vulnerability of nuclear sites to military actions. The agency's director general, Rafael Grossi, reiterated that nuclear facilities must never be targeted in military operations, as any disruption to power supply could lead to a serious accident.
Ukraine has three operating nuclear power plants, which have so far avoided direct attacks, though conventional power plants have been repeatedly bombed by Russian forces. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, seized by Russia in 2022, has been shut down but remains on the frontline, with external power lost for a month in 2025.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions in the region, with the IAEA calling for restraint and adherence to international laws that protect civilian nuclear sites. The agency continues to monitor the situation closely.
