Russian strikes have damaged nuclear substations in Ukraine, leading the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to issue a “critical” warning.
Power to three nuclear power plants has been affected after Russian strikes on Thursday.
The IAEA said teams at South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant and Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant reported the plants had lost access to one of their off-site power lines.
In a statement, the IAEA said: “The IAEA has been informed of military activity in Ukraine early this morning that has led to damage to substations critical to nuclear safety and security in Ukraine.”
IAEA director General Grossi said: “The dangers to nuclear safety continue to be very real and ever-present.
“I once again call for maximum military restraint in the vicinity of nuclear facilities and full respect of the seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security.”
Separately, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said Russia has launched an attack on the Slovyansk Thermal Power Plant on Thursday.
“This is outright terror. Normal people don’t wage war like this, and the world must respond appropriately to such Russian warfare,” he said in a post on X on Thursday evening.
This is a developing news story. Updates to follow.
