Russian forces have captured the Chernobyl power plant, a Ukrainian official say according to Reuters.
“It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians,” Mykhailo Podolyak an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said. “This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today.”
Earlier on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian forces were attempting to take over the nuclear plant.
“Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl. Our defenders are sacrificing their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated,” Zelensky tweeted.”This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.”
The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 in then-Soviet Ukraine sent clouds of nuclear material across much of Europe after an explosion in the plant’s fourth reactor. More than 30 people died after the explosion in 1986 and several others died in the years after from radiation symptoms.
A Russian security source told Reuters that Russia wants to control the Chernobyl nuclear reactor to signal NATO not to interfere militarily.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an all-out assault on Ukraine with missiles, warplanes and tanks on Thursday. During this address he called on the Ukrainian army to lay down their weapons and go home and sent a warning to outside forces that may want to interfere with his invasion of Ukraine.
“To anyone who would consider interfering from outside: If you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All the relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me,” he said.
