Ukraine: Chernobyl Has Been Captured By Russian Forces And Hostages Have Been Taken

According to Ukraine officials, Russian military have captured Chernobyl power station and taken hostages, as Vladimir Putin's invasion of the country continues.

Earlier today, a battle between both Ukrainian and Russian troops reportedly broke out near the remains of the nuclear plant - located around 60 miles north of Kyiv - with Moscow reportedly now having seized the site.

'It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians,' adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said as per Reuters. 'This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today.'

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky earlier warned of Russia trying to capture the site, writing on Twitter: '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.'

On April 26, 1986, reactor four at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, leading to the worst accident in nuclear power history. Russian troops reportedly attacked the radioactive site from the side of Belarus.

Since Putin moved his troops across the border earlier today, February 24, in a 'special military operation', warfare has gripped the country, with over 200 attacks and the deaths of both troops and civilians having emerged in the hours since. The 'full-scale' invasion marks the biggest attack by one country on another in Europe since World War Two.

Since war was declared this morning, dozens are believed to have been killed as shell attacks were launched in Kyiv and other cities in the country.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new 'massive sanctions' to be imposed on both Russia and Belarus in the wake of the invasion, including a full asset freeze on VTB bank, which has over £154bn in assets, and stringent export controls and suspension of the use of export licences to Russia. 'These powers will enable us to totally exclude Russian banks from the UK financial system... stopping them from accessing Sterling and clearing payments through the UK', Johnson said during his address to the Commons today.

The PM also described Putin as a 'blood stained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest', before assuring the UK will 'continue on a remorseless mission to squeeze Russia from the global economy day-by-day and week-by-week'.

US President Joe Biden is expected to outline 'severe sanctions' on Russia in an address to the nation at 6.30pm GMT today.

Since the full scale invasion, political and military defensive alliance NATO has vowed to strengthen its land, sea and air forces across eastern Europe.

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