Fears are rising about the safety of a nuclear power plant in Russia after an alleged Ukrainian attack overnight.

A fire broke out at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant after military forces shot down what they claimed was a Ukrainian drone flying near the site.

The ‘device detonated’ upon impact, sparking a blaze which the facility said ‘was extinguished by fire crews,’ authorities in Kursk said in a statement.

It added: ‘A combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was shot down by air defence systems near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.

‘Upon impact, the drone detonated, resulting in damage to an auxiliary transformer.’

Radiation levels are understood to be within the normal range after the fire was put out.

Alexander Khinshtein, the regional acting go

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