Ukraine Officials Share Footage From Inside Nuclear Power Plant The Moment It Was Attacked

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.

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'.

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information 

Topics: World News, Russia, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.