Ukraine nuclear authority gives update on Zaporizhzhia power plant: now in Russian hands

Russian forces opened fire at the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia plant in the city of Enerhodar, early Friday morning, starting a fire and sparking concerns of a nuclear disaster on the level of Chernobyl. 

Ukraine's nuclear authority announced later Friday morning, however, that the fire had been extinguished, the power units remained intact, and no changes in radiation had been detected. Even so, the plant had fallen into Russian hands.

Russian shelling caused a fire to break out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP), but Ukrainian State Emergency Service units put out the fire as of 6:20 a.m., the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate reported. The agency could not provide information about the dead and injured.

"ZNPP power units remain intact, unit 1 reactor compartment auxiliary buildings have been damaged, which does not affect the safety of the unit," the agency reported. "The systems and components important to the safety of the NPP are operational."

"At present, no changes in the radiation situation have been registered," the agency added. Crisis agencies are investigating the situation.