Featured Image Credit: ABC News/CNN/Twitter
Topics: World News, Russia, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: World News, Russia, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukraine officials have released new footage from when the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was seized by Russian forces.
Yesterday morning, March 4, Ukraine's State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation (SINR) announced that Europe's largest nuclear power plant had been 'captured by military forces of the Russian federation'.
It was reported that the Russian military had caused a fire at a nearby five-story training facility as well as launching shells at the power plant, however Russia claimed its forces were not responsible for the blaze.
A video taken from the control room of the plant as it was coming under fire has since been released by Ukraine officials.
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The video recording captures an announcement to the Russians which sounded on the plant's PA system amid the invasion, CNN reports.
The announcement reportedly stated: 'Stop shooting at a nuclear dangerous facility. Stop shooting immediately! You threaten the security of the whole world! The work of the vital organs of the Zaporizhzhia station may be disrupted. It will be impossible for us to restore it.
'You are endangering the security of the entire world. Attention! Stop shooting at a nuclear hazardous facility. Stop shooting at a nuclear hazardous facility!
'Stop shooting at a nuclear hazardous facility! Attention! Stop it!'
Damage to the power plant could not only cut off around a fifth of Ukraine's required electricity, but nuclear experts have warned about the 'frightening' possibility of a situation as severe as Fukushima in 2011.
Ukraine's emergency services claimed that as they were trying to extinguish the fire they were shot at by Russian forces, resulting in the fire burning for at least four hours.
However, the emergency services confirmed there were 'no victims'.
While Russian authorities have claimed Ukrainian saboteurs are responsible for the fire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the Kremlin of 'nuclear terror'.
When closing in on Zaporizhzhia two days ago, Russian troops were reported as nearing another of the country's key plants located in the south.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has since warned that Russia's 'reckless' nuclear plant attack could 'directly threaten the safety of all Europe'.
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