Poland, concerned about fighting around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, has distributed iodine tablets to regional fire departments to give to people in the event of radioactive exposure, a deputy minister said, writes Reuters.

Iodine is considered a way of protecting the body against conditions such as thyroid cancer in case of radioactive exposure.

Shelling at the site of Zaporizhzhia – Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant - has damaged buildings close to its six reactors and cut power cables, risking a nuclear catastrophe that would affect neighbouring countries. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the shelling around the plant.

“After the media reports about battles near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant we decided... ahead of time to take protective action to distribute iodine. I would like to reassure all citizens that these are routine, pre-emptive actions that are to protect us in the event of a situation which... I hope will not happen”, - deputy interior minister Blazej Pobozy told private broadcaster Radio Zet.