Russia-Ukraine war LIVE – Europe’s BIGGEST nuclear plant hit by Russian troops as Zelensky warns of ‘nuclear disaster’

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EUROPE’S biggest nuclear power plant has been attacked by Russian troops in Ukraine.

Dramatic live stream video from the site in Enerhodar showed Vladimir Putin’s troops blasting away at one of the buildings during fighting with local troops early this morning, Ukrainian officials said.

The fire at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia has now been put out, officials from state emergency services confirmed today.

But the attack triggered concern that fighting could trigger a nuclear disaster 10 times the size of Chernobyl.

“Europe must wake up,” Zelenskyy said in a video message early Friday about the situation.

“If there is an explosion, it is the end of Europe,” Zelenskyy added. “Only urgent Europe actions can stop Russian troops.”

In the aftermath of the Russian assault, there were conflicting reports about the radiation levels.

A Ukrainian government official said elevated levels of radiation had already been detected at the plant – but later the plant’s authorities said its safety had been secured.

In a chilling warning, Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said: “If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chernobyl.

Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up to the minute updates…

  • The Russian invasion of Ukraine explained

    Here are a list of essential explainers to help you get a better grasp of the ongoing situation in Ukraine

  • Plots foiled

    Ukraine’s national security secretary has already revealed that the country recently foiled a plot by the FSB to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Vladimir Putin is a former chief of the FSB, the main successor of the Societ Union’s feared KGB.

  • Public execution fears

    RUSSIAN spooks have reportedly drawn up plans to carry out public executions in Ukrainian cities.

    The Federal Security Service, Russia’s intelligence agency, is said to be ready to carry out summary justice if its invasion is a success.

    Key political leaders from the Ukrainian administration are likely to be targeted.

    The agency is also planning to detain rebel leaders and ruthlessly suppress public protests, a security official who has seen intercepted FSB reports told Bloomberg.

  • What’s been happening overnight?

    Here’s a quick recap of everything that’s been going on while you were asleep.

  • Good morning

    This is John Hall taking over The Sun’s live coverage of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

  • Korean Air to cancel passenger flights to Moscow

    Korean Air Lines Co Ltd has announced today its plans to cancel passenger flights to and from Moscow for the next two weeks.

    The South Korean carrier said it also plans to reroute cargo flights that originally passed through Moscow until March 18. 

  • Calls for NATO no-fly zone in Ukraine ‘irresponsible’

    Any calls for NATO to enforce a no-fly zone in Ukraine would be irresponsible and could drag the military alliance into direct conflict with Russia, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said today.

    “I believe that all encouragements for NATO to get involved into the military conflict now are irresponsible,” Simonyte told a news conference in Vilnius.

  • China monitoring nuclear plant situation in Ukraine

    China has urged “all sides to exercise restraint” to protect Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine.

    A government spokesperson said: “We will monitor the situation and call on all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and ensure the safety of relevant nuclear facilities”.

  • London Stock Exchange suspends more Russian firms

    The London Stock Exchangesaid today it had suspended the trading of several Russian companies, including Sistema and Magnit, as exchanges scale back their exposure to Russia.

    “The London Stock Exchange notes the ongoing deterioration of market conditions since March 2 2022, and in order to maintain orderly markets, the exchange has suspended the admission to trading of the instruments,” it said in a statement.

  • How to donate to The Sun’s Ukraine fund by text

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  • NATO should ‘consider all options’

    Latvia’s foreign minister has said that Nato should “consider all options” when asked about entering direct conflict with Russia.

    Edgars Rinkevics told the BBC’s Today programme that governments “should not exclude” any recourse to stop the invasion.

    Mr Rinkevics said: “I think we should consider all options but we should also understand, let’s say, some Nato policies can be implemented only if those countries that have necessary assets agree on that.”

    Asked whether Nato may instead be forced to broker an “uncomfortable” settlement with Russia, the minister replied: “Well, I think we must do everything that we can. That’s why I’m saying that we should not exclude any options.”

  • Nato foreign minister arrive for meeting on Ukraine

    NATO foreign ministers are meeting today to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

  • PM: Putin’s ‘reckless actions threaten safety of Europe’

    The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, spoke with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy early this morning, after news broke about a fire at the nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia.

    PA Media reports a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “Both leaders agreed that Russia must immediately cease its attack on the power station and allow unfettered access for emergency services to the plant.

    “The Prime Minister said the reckless actions of President Putin could now directly threaten the safety of all of Europe.

    “He said the UK would do everything it could to ensure the situation did not deteriorate further.

    “The Prime Minister said he would be seeking an emergency UN Security Council meeting in the coming hours, and that the UK would raise this issue immediately with Russia and close partners. Both leaders agreed a ceasefire was crucial.”

  • Raab: Attack on nuclear power plant ‘affront to the world’

    Dominic Raab has said that the world must “come down hard on Putin” following the Kremlin’s attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.

    Speaking to Times Radio, the British deputy prime minister said the Russian forces’ actions were “clearly reckless”.

    “It is an affront to the world at large,” he added.

  • Russian casualties

    Russian casualties are approaching 10,000, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, however this number is yet to be confirmed.

    As of today, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia losses include 33 planes and 37 helicopters – but these statistics are yet to be confirmed.

  • Ukraine’s Okhtyrka without heat & electricity

    A Russian air strike has destroyed the power plant in Okhtyrka, a city located between Kharkiv and Kyiv, leaving residents without heat or electricity, according to head of the region.

    “We are trying to figure out how to get people out of the city urgently, because in a day the apartment buildings will turn into a cold stone trap without water, light or electricity,” Dmytro Zhyvytskyy said on Telegram.

    The raid took place on last night.

  • Latest refugee figures

    Around 624,500 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Feb 24, the Polish border guard said this morning.

    It said that on Thursday around 99,200 people entered, and that on Friday about 25,200 people had crossed as of 06:00 GMT.

  • UK’s MoD says Mariupol still in Ukrainian control

    The Ministry of Defence has released an intelligence update today on the war in Ukraine.

    It said Mariupol “remains under Ukrainian control but has likely been encircled by Russian forces”. 

    The MoD added that the city has been “subjected to intense Russian strikes”.

  • Damage to compartment of reactor 1 at nuclear power plant

    A fire at Europes biggest nuclear plant ignited by Russian shelling has been extinguished, Ukrainian authorities confirmed earlier, as Russian forces have taken control of the site.

    There was damage to the compartment of reactor No. 1 at the Zaporizhzhia plant in the city of Enerhodar, but it does not affect the safety of the power unit, the regional military administration said in a statement.
    It added that operational personnel are ensuring its safety.

    No information is immediately available about casualties, however Ukrainian officials said that radiation levels in the area are not at dangerous levels.

  • What you need to know right now

    • Russian forces seized Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine after fierce fighting which set an adjacent training facility on fire, a local authority said.
    • No sign of radiation leak from essential equipment at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was unaffected after the fire, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.
    • ‘Europeans, please wake up’ – Ukrainian President Zelenskiy records video message and says Russian tanks had shot at the reactor plants, though there was no evidence cited that they had been hit.
    • U.S. President Biden and British Prime Minister Johnson spoke separately with Zelenskiy about the fire. The White House said Biden urged Russia to “cease its military activities in the area and allow firefighters and emergency responders to access the site.”
    • Russia’s communications watchdog restricted access to BBC Russian service as well as Radio Liberty and the Meduza media outlet, the RIA news agency reported.
    • Google pulls ads in Russia Google said it had stopped selling online advertising in Russia, a ban that covers search, YouTube and outside publishing partners.

  • Explained: Why capturing Mariupol is important for the Russians

    Mariupol is a key target for Russian forces.

    It serves as Ukraine’s access to the port, and if Russian troops were to capture it, it would likely deal a crippling blow to its economy.

    Capturing the city, alongside Kherson, a port on the Black Sea, would provide Russia with a land corridor to Crimea, which it seized in 2014.

  • Fighting continues in key Ukrainian port city

    Mariupol, in southern Ukraine, has been the site of heavy attacks, and last night officials in the city said: “We are being destroyed.”

    Electricity and water systems have been knocked out as “relentless” shelling continues to target civilian infrastructure.

    Officials say food deliveries have also been cut, while most phone networks are unavailable.

    Fire is seen in Mariupol after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine March 3
    Fire is seen in Mariupol after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine March 3Credit: Reuters
    A man walks past an apartment building hit by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 2
    A man walks past an apartment building hit by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 2Credit: AP


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