Military Strikes Damages Ukraine Nuclear Plant

Parts of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were damaged by military strikes that forced one of its reactors to shut down.

The plant's operator disclosed the development on Saturday as the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said he was "alarmed" by the shelling at the Europe's largest such facility.

The Daily Sabah reported Energoatom late Saturday saying; "The strikes on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in south Ukraine, Europe's largest atomic power complex seriously damaged a station containing nitrogen and oxygen and an auxiliary building.

"The strikes had damaged a power cable, forced one of the reactors to stop working and there are still risks of leaking hydrogen and radioactive substances, and the risk of fire is also high.

"The shelling had caused a serious risk for the safe operation of the plant."

Russian troops have occupied the plant since the early days of their invasion and Ukraine has accused them of storing heavy weapons there.