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Fire is exactly the word you don`t want to hear at a nuclear energy

plant, but that is what happened at Zaporizhzhia amid sustained shelling.

Ukraine`s energy body, Energoatom, says it deliberately disconnected the

plant so the fire could be extinguished. The station is occupied by Russia,

but operated by Ukrainian technicians. Two permanent IAEA inspectors are

now stationed at the plant, but, in Ukraine, there is growing impatience

with the U.N. watchdog.

JERICKA DUNCAN: Well, tonight, officials in Europe are accusing Russia of weaponizing fuel, after Russia cut off a major pipeline, saying it will not be turned back on until sanctions over its war in Ukraine are lifted.

This comes as fighting threatens Europe`s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

CBS` Debora Patta reports from Kyiv tonight.

(Begin VT)

DEBORA PATTA (voiceover): Fire is exactly the word you don`t want to hear at a nuclear energy plant, but that is what happened at Zaporizhzhia amid sustained shelling.

Ukraine`s energy body, Energoatom, says it deliberately disconnected the plant so the fire could be extinguished. The station is occupied by Russia, but operated by Ukrainian technicians. Two permanent IAEA inspectors are now stationed at the plant, but, in Ukraine, there is growing impatience with the U.N. watchdog.

State nuclear chief Petro Kotin wants solutions.

PETRO KOTIN (Acting President, Energoatom): We must have some kind of viable results from this mission, because it should be more than counsel.

DEBORA PATTA: He says United Nations peacekeepers should also be deployed at the plant.

Further afield, in the south, a fierce battle is being fought to take back Russia-occupied Kherson. Ukraine has stepped up its counteroffensive as it grows in confidence following the steady supply of Western aid, planting its flag on two liberated settlements over the weekend.

(End VT)

DEBORA PATTA: The worrying developments at Zaporizhzhia come on the eve of a U.N. Security Council briefing.

Nuclear inspectors will report back on what they found during their visit last week -- Jericka.

JERICKA DUNCAN: Debora Patta for us in Kyiv, we thank you.

END

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