Bombing threatens Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and UN pleads for access

The UN's chief nuclear watchdog has called for an immediate halt to fighting that risks a radioactive catastrophe, as Russians and Ukrainians are mutually accused of having struck dangerously close to the reactors.

Bombing in Ukraine again threatened Europe's largest nuclear power plant on Thursday, damaging equipment on the ground, with Russian and Ukrainian forces blaming each other for creating the risk of a catastrophic nuclear accident in the middle of a war zone.

This danger caused a meeting Thursday of the United Nations Security Council, where Rafael M. Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, said that although experts had assessed that there was "no immediate threat" to nuclear security of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, "that could change at any time".

A single errant shell could be disastrous holes, but amidst fighting and conflicting claims, it has been difficult for independent observers to judge what is happening. As alarm grew this week, the UN secretary-general warned that any attack on the facility was "suicidal", and the State Department said the United States supported a demilitarized zone around the nuclear power plant.

"Any military action that jeopardizes nuclear safety or security must cease immediately," Grossi said. "These military actions taking place near such a large nuclear facility could have very serious consequences."

Russian forces have taken control of the plant, Europe's largest nuclear generator, shortly after invading Ukraine in February, but kept Ukrainian workers there to operate the plant. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of using the facility as a shield to shell the town of Nikopol and surrounding areas on the opposite bank of the Dnipro, where local officials said at least 13 people were killed in shelling on Wednesday .

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">The Ukrainians say they don't want to cause a nuclear crisis by shooting at the Russian occupants of the plant. But in fact it was hit – although there have been no reports of damage to reactor buildings so far – sparking expressions of fear of an accident and conflicting accusations of responsibility around the world. . Last week, shelling damaged a spent fuel storage area at the complex, although there was no indication of a resulting radiation leak.

ImageRussian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, in March.Credit...Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters< /figure>

Mr. Grossi said recent explosions near an electrical panel caused a transformer and two backup transformers to shut down. Another round of shelling took place in the area of ​​the plant's nitrogen-oxygen station, he said, starting a fire that was extinguished. And at least one staff member working in the area where dry spent nuclear fuel is stored was injured in another shelling episode.

The situation, did -he said, was "deteriorating rapidly to the point of becoming...