Ukrainians put out fire near nuclear plant after Russian attack

Emergency services in Ukraine have said that they have extinguished a fire that broke out at Europe's largest nuclear power plant of Zaporizhzhia when the complex came under fire from Russian forces.

Ukrainian authorities have said that the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is now secured.

"At 06:20 [04:20 GMT] the fire in the training building of Zaporizhzhia NPP in Energodar was extinguished. There are no victims," the emergency services said in a statement on Facebook noting that 40 people and 10 vehicles were involved in the operation.

Ukraine earlier said Russian forces had attacked the plant and a five-storey training facility building next to it was on fire.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had accused Moscow of resorting to "nuclear terror" following the incident.

"This is the first time in our history. In the history of mankind. The terrorist state now resorted to nuclear terror. If there is an explosion, it is the end of everything. The end of Europe. This is the evacuation of Europe. Only immediate European action can stop Russian troops," Mr Zelensky said as he appealed for global help.

Hours after the incident was reported, Oleksandr Starukh, head of the military administration of the Zaporizhzhia region, said on Facebook, "The director of the plant said that the nuclear safety is now guaranteed." He added, "According to those responsible for the plant, a training building and a laboratory were affected by the fire."

The station at Zaporizhzhia, an industrial city in southeast Ukraine, supplies an estimated 40 per cent of the country's nuclear power and, according to Mr Zelensky, houses six of Ukraine's 15 reactors.

Ukraine's nuclear facilities have been a main point of concern after Russia's military invaded the country last week and began bombarding cities with shells and missiles.