Russia attacks Ukraine Russian forces capture Chernobyl nuclear power plant
Kiev/IBNS: The Russian forces have captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near the city of Pripyat in northern Ukraine, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said on Thursday.
"It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The Russian parliament tweeted the information from its official handle. "The Russian occupiers took control of the Chernobyl. The lives of millions on the Planet are under treat," said the tweet.
Talking control of Chernobyl nuclear plant would also mean that the Russian forces are only about 100 kilometers away from the Ukranian capital Kyiv.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned about the attempt of the Russian forces to occupy the Chernobyl nuclear plant. "Russian forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the abandoned city of Pripyat in northern Ukraine," he tweeted.
Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the #Chornobyl_NPP. Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. Reported this to @SwedishPM. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2022
Russian troops from the direction of Belarus entered an area near the former nuclear power plant Chernobyl earlier on Thursday.
Air raid sirens wailed across Ukraine's capital Kiev Thursday as explosions boomed and flashed in cities across the country after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized military action against its western neighbour. Around 40 people are reported to have been killed so far.
President Putin announced the military action early in the morning, after weeks of tense buildup, and attracted widespread condemnation from leaders across the world.
Long lines snaked outside of ATMs, supermarkets and gas stations in cities such as Kiev and Mariupol as people scrambled to prepare for what was coming.
Residents and communities across the country were gripped with "severe panic" as Russia on Thursday launched what Ukraine said was a "full-scale attack" against its neighbour, with cities bombarded from the air and forces fighting on the ground.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its first day of the Ukraine invasion was "successful" hours after announcing it had destroyed 74 above-ground military infrastructure facilities, including 11 aerodromes.Ukrainian police said Russia had carried out 203 attacks since the beginning of the day.
[With UNI inputs]
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