Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant crisis

U.N. nuclear watchdog head Rafael Grossi kicked off a visit Tuesday to "independently assess" conditions at Russia's Kursk nuclear plant following Ukraine's unprecedented cross-border offensive into the Russian region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of attempting to attack the Kursk nuclear power plant, according to Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting about the situation in border areas of Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions of Russia, at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

Russian forces are now positioned just 10 kilometers from the outskirts of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. This advancement comes amid ongoing conflicts in the region, where Ukrainian forces have been engaged in various operations.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has yet to determine the cause of the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Energodar, southern Ukraine. The blaze, which began on Sunday, ignited in the plant's cooling system, with Russia and Ukraine each attributing the incident to the other.

Active hostilities continue in Russia's Kursk region, following a cross-border incursion by Ukrainian forces. Reports indicate that Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 30 kilometers into Russian territory, marking the deepest penetration by Kyiv since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has issued a dire warning, stating that the world is teetering on the brink of a "nuclear catastrophe." His remarks come amid escalating tensions surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian occupation for two years.

The drone attack on Sunday, which hit a building housing one of the six reactors of the plant, is characterized as the most dangerous development

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has sounded the alarm, cautioning of the heightened risk of a "major nuclear accident" following a recent drone attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The attack, which occurred last night, has stirred tensions as Russia accuses Ukraine of orchestrating the assault, while Kyiv vehemently denies any involvement.

Day 696 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours: