On Friday, a bomb hit a high-voltage power line at the Russian-captured Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. Both sides apologized to each other for the attack, while Ukrainian authorities said the plant was still operating and no radioactive leaks had been detected, Reuters reported.

Zaporizhzhia NPP March 4 Photo: Handout / AFP / Profimedia

The Ukrainian state-owned nuclear company Energoatom blamed Russian bombings for the damage at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.

Earlier, the Russian administration of the occupied Ukrainian city of Energodar said that Ukrainian shells had hit power lines in the southeast of the country.

The Interfax news agency, citing the city administration, reported that a fire broke out inside the power plant, and the electricity necessary for the safe operation of the reactors was turned off.

The plant was captured by Russian troops at the beginning of March at the first stage of the war.

Energoatom said the plant, located about 200 km northwest of the Russian-controlled port of Mariupol, was still operating and that no radioactive emissions had been detected.

The reaction of the Russian army

The Ministry of Defense of Russia on Friday accused Ukrainian troops of bombing Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest in Europe.

“Fortunately, the Ukrainian projectiles did not hit the fuel complex and the nearby oxygen plant, which prevented a larger fire and a possible radiation accident,” the statement quoted by Reuters said.

Both armies claim little progress

Further east, both sides reported little progress as the Russians shelled towns and villages across a large area, a tactic that has become familiar of late.

Ground fighting has been heaviest around the town of Pisky in Donetsk region, a fortified village held by Ukrainian forces, and near the city of Donetsk, which is held by Russian-backed separatist forces.

The Russians are also targeting the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiyivka as they seek to gain full control of eastern Donbas, Ukraine’s industrial heartland.

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