KYIV. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Three transformers at the Luhansk thermal power plant, or Luhanska TES, situated in the town of Shchastia in the Luhansk region of Ukraine, caught fire on Tuesday; there is a risk that the fire could spread to three other transformers, Ukraine's State Emergency Situations Service said on Telegram.
"As of 2:30 p.m., three transformers were ablaze in Shchastia (each contains 40 tonnes of transformer oil). There is a risk that if the inflammable oil continues leaking, fire may spread to the second line (another three transformers). The personnel and equipment of the State Emergency Situations Service are on full alert and at a safe distance. The building is under non-stop fire [by the opposing side]," the Ukrainian agency said in a statement on Tuesday.
Earlier reports citing the State Emergency Situations Service said that, at 12:34 p.m., a fire broke out and oil leaked at a transformer at the Luhansk thermal power plant in Shchastia following a direct hit by an artillery shell. The fire then spread onto a neighboring transformer. Fire brigades and rescue teams were sent to the scene.
The previous day, Shchastia was cut off from power and water supplies and left without central heating because of a stoppage at the Luhanska TES after three 110 kW and 220 kW electrical transmission lines were damaged in intensive attacks on the town. Police restricted entry into the town for transport.
The Commission on industrial and environmental safety and emergency situations has proposed declaring the attack on Shchastia and the incident that damaged the Luhanska TES as an emergency of national scale. Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Serhiy Haidai claimed earlier, citing the commission's findings, that the artillery attacks on Shchastia had been targeted and aimed at destroying critical infrastructure.