Russia-Ukraine latest news: Russians seize nuclear power plant after shelling it overnight

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine has reportedly been seized by Russian forces after it came under attack earlier in the night.

The plant was targeted by Russian rockets and gunfire on Thursday, causing a fire onsite and worries over radiation levels. Ukraine’s president called the attack an act of “nuclear terrorism”.

The plant is Europe’s largest for nuclear power and accounts for 25 per cent of Ukraine’s electricity.

Citing Ukrainian officials, Reuters reports the plant is now under Russian control.

Shortly after the shelling of the plant, an anonymous Ukrainian official caused panic by telling the Associated Press that there were “elevated” levels of radiation at the site as a result of the fire.

This claim was quickly denied by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service and authorities at the plant said the facility had now been secured. The director of the plant, Oleksandr Starukh, said “nuclear safety is now guaranteed”.

Boris Johnson and Joe Biden spoke with President Zelensky after news broke about the fire.

A Downing Street spokesman called the situation “gravely concerning”, adding: “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.”

​​Follow the latest updates below.

08:33 AM

Russia conducts searches at shuttered human rights group

Russian law enforcement officers have carried out searches at the Moscow office of human rights group Memorial International as well as Civic Assistance, an organisation that helps migrants and refugees, the OVD-Info protest monitor said.

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It was not immediately clear what the searches were about and there was no comment from the police. Memorial International was ordered to shut down in December amid a sweeping crackdown.

08:27 AM

‘Reckless’ attack on nuclear plant ‘hugely concerning’: Liz Truss

The foreign secretary has branded a Russian takeover of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant “reckless” and “hugely concerning”.

Liz Truss said she would seek an emergency session of the UN Security Council to address the issue.

Ms Truss tweeted her statement as she arrived for an emergency meeting of G7, EU and Nato foreign ministers in Brussels.

08:20 AM

Several Ukrainian towns reduced to rubble after Russian shelling

08:16 AM

‘Doubly reprehensible’ Russians continued shelling after plant fire: Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab said it was “doubly reprehensible” that Russian forces had continued to shell a nuclear site after Ukrainian emergency services had looked to put a fire out at Europe’s largest power station.

The Deputy Prime Minister told Sky News the Russians had inflicted a bombardment on a “very sensitive, precarious and dangerous facility” in Zaporizhzhia.

He said: “The fact that the Russians kept on bombarding after there was the fire and the Ukrainian emergency rescue team were trying to get to that makes it doubly reprehensible.”

Mr Raab said the UN security council meeting being called for by Boris Johnson was needed to “ramp up the pressure on these appalling tactics we are seeing from the Kremlin”.

08:09 AM

China urges all sides to ensure safety of nuclear facilities

China’s foreign ministry on Friday urged all sides to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, after a fire broke out in a building adjacent to a nuclear plant that was later seized by Russian forces, according to Ukraine.

“We will monitor the situation and call on all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and ensure the safety of relevant nuclear facilities,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily briefing.

China has refused to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine or call it an invasion. Mr Wang said on Friday that China is “very concerned” about the situation.

08:04 AM

‘No leak’ detected at Ukraine nuclear plant

The Ukrainian nuclear regulator has said that no leaks of radiation have been detected at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which caught fire overnight during a battle with Russian troops.

“Changes in the radiation situation have not been registered,” the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said.

08:00 AM

Latest update from MoD

07:57 AM

Russia jail those spreading ‘fake’ information about army

The lower house of the Russian parliament has passed a law which makes it a jailable offence to spread “fake” information about the armed forces.

The law, passed by the State Duma in the third and final reading, introduces fines and jail terms for those who intentionally spread false information about the armed forces that has a serious impact, according to a statement by the lower house.

“If the fakes lead to serious consequences then imprisonment of up to 15 years threatens,” the lower house of parliament, known as the Duma in Russian, said in a statement.

07:51 AM

Nato ‘should consider all options’ when it comes to Russia conflict: Latvian foreign minister

Latvia’s foreign minister has said 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.

Earlier, the programme heard from former Ukrainian prime minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, who said other European countries should offer direct military support and “at least to close our skies to protect us from the threat”.

Asked about the comments, 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.”

He added that any decision would have to be voted for unanimously.

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.”

07:47 AM

Refugees continue to flee in their hundreds of thousands

07:38 AM

Moscow stock exchange to remain closed

The Russian government has announced the Moscow stock exchange will remain closed through at least March 8.

The exchange was closed on February 28 as Russia’s economy went into free fall after Western sanctions. The exchange was originally closed until March 5.

07:27 AM

Raab: We must come down hard on Putin

The US energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, says her department has activated its nuclear incident response team and is monitoring events at the plant. The Chinese foreign ministry also announced it was monitoring developments.

Dominic Raab, the deputy prime minister, told Times Radio this morning: “It is clearly reckless, irresponsible and not only the fact they were shooting, bombarding that particular site, but when the Ukrainian emergency authorities were trying to put out the fire, the shelling continued.

“It must stop. We support the Ukrainians in dealing with the security situation there but also I think come down hard on Vladimir Putin.

“That’s why the Prime Minister has called for an emergency United Nations security council meeting in New York so the entire international community can address this, because of course it is a much wider threat, given the nuclear implications.

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

06:52 AM

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant captured by Russian forces

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Energodar has reportedly been seized by Russian forces after it came under attack earlier in the night.

The plant was targeted by Russian rockets and gunfire on Thursday, causing a fire onsite and worries over radiation levels.

Citing Ukrainian officials, Reuters is reporting it is now under Russian control.

The plant is Europe’s largest for nuclear power and accounts for 25 percent of Ukraine’s electricity.

06:32 AM

Nuclear power plant essential equipment unaffected and no change in radiation levels, says IAEA

Essential equipment at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was unaffected after a fire there, with no change in radiation levels, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday, citing the country’s regulatory authorities.

Ukraine had said the plant in the city was shelled overnight, the IAEA added.

“The Ukraine regulatory authority said a fire at the site had not affected ‘essential’ equipment and plant personnel were taking mitigatory actions,” it said. “There was no reported change in radiation levels at the plant, it said.”

06:16 AM

Coinbase will follow the law if US imposes crypto sanctions on Russia

The CEO of Coinbase Brian Armstrong says his company will follow the law if the US imposes a ban on crypto currencies in Russia.

“Every US company has to follow the law – it doesn’t matter if your company handles dollars, crypto, gold, real estate or even non financial assets. Sanctions laws apply to all US people and businesses.”

Mr Armstrong added, however, that the risk of Russian oligarchs using crypto currency to avoid sanctions is relatively low due to it being more traceable than cash or gold, while also proving useful for ordinary Russian people.

“In addition, we are not preemptively banning all Russians from using Coinbase. We believe everyone deserves access to basic financial services unless the law says otherwise.”

“Some ordinary Russians are using crypto as a lifeline now that their currency has collapsed. Many of them likely oppose what their country is doing, and a ban would hurt them, too. That said, if the US government decides to impose a ban, we will of course follow those laws.”

05:52 AM

Where Ukraine’s nuclear reactors are located

05:44 AM

Russian tech giant Yandex says might default

Russian tech giant Yandex warned on Thursday it may default on its debt after it was suspended from trading on New York’s digital stock exchange.

Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange this week halted all listings of Russian companies until they explain how they will be impacted by sanctions imposed by the US and its allies in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Yandex, which is legally headquartered in the Netherlands but has its main offices in Russia, said that it was not targeted by the sanctions.

“There are currently no regulatory restrictions on the ability of US, UK or EU persons to acquire and trade in Yandex’s securities,” it added.

05:36 AM

Pictured: Shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Energodar

05:29 AM

Shelling at nuclear power plant stops

The mayor of Energodar Dmytro Orlov says shelling at the Zaporizhzhya power plant has now stopped, according to local media.

04:59 AM

Fire at nuclear power plant extinguished

Ukraine emergency services say they have extinguished the fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

“At 06:20 the fire in the training building of Zaporizhzhya NPP in Energodar was extinguished. There are no victims.”

04:51 AM

Aeroflot to continue carry passengers despite ban

Russia’s Aeroflot said it will continue to carry passengers despite being excluded from the sabre ticket booking system, RIA News reported.

The airline, which is the largest government-majority owned carrier in Russia, was kicked off the marketplace used by travel agencies and travel websites on Thursday due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Announcing the ban on Thursday, Sabre CEO Sean Menke said: “Sabre has been monitoring the evolving situation in Ukraine with increasing concern. From the beginning, our primary focus has been the safety of our team members in the impacted region, as well as doing our part to support the much-needed relief efforts.”

04:36 AM

Airbnb suspends Russia operations

Home rental company Airbnb Inc is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus, Chief Executive Officer Brian Chesky said in a tweet on Thursday.

04:05 AM

Czechs ready to send 400 troops to boost Nato’s eastern flank

The Czech Republic could contribute 400 troops to a battlegroup in neighbouring Slovakia as part of Nato’s plans to bolster its eastern flank, Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said on Thursday.

Nato has sought to strengthen its presence in eastern countries of the military alliance in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which borders Slovakia and other central European nations like Hungary, Romania and Poland.

The new battlegroup would include troops from those countries along with Bulgaria, Ms Cernochova said.

The Czechs would send personnel for posts in command and connection, logistics, policing and a mechanised unit, she said.

Slovakia’s defence minister said last Saturday that the country could host a battlegroup being formed that would include 1,200 foreign troops and a Patriot missile defence system manned by German and Dutch personnel.

03:44 AM

US Energy Department monitoring nuclear plant fire

US Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the US Department of Energy has activated its Nuclear Incident Response Team and is monitoring the situation in which a nuclear plant caught fire after it was attacked by Russian forces.

She said so far there has been no elevated radiation readings near the facility.

03:26 AM

‘All of Europe’ threatened by power plant shelling, says Johnson

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Russia’s shelling of a nuclear power station in the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia could “directly threaten the safety of all of Europe”.

One of the power station’s – the largest in Europe – six reactors caught fire after it was attacked by Russia. While the reactor is under renovation, according to the power plant’s spokesman, it still contains nuclear fuel.

In an early morning phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Mr Johnson vowed to seek an emergency UN Security Council meeting in a bid for a ceasefire.

Downing Street called the situation in Zaporizhzhia “gravely concerning”.

“Both leaders agreed that Russia must immediately cease its attack on the power station and allow unfettered access for emergency services to the plant,” a spokeswoman for the PM’s office said.

03:14 AM

Russian tanks knew what they fired at when hitting plant, says Zelensky

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky suggested Russian tanks had intentionally fired on the country’s major nuclear power facility in an attack that risked causing an accident of catastrophic proportions.

“Europe has to wake up [in the middle of the night]. The biggest European nuclear power plant is on fire. Right now, the Russian tanks are firing at the nuclear blocks. Those tanks have IR guidance systems, so they know what they fire at,” according to a translation tweeted by local journalist Victor Kovalenko.

“I am talking to Ukrainians, Europeans, anybody who knows the word Chernobyl, who knows how many deaths was caused by that explosion. It was a global catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands of people had to diminish the aftermath of that incident.”

02:53 AM

Biden joins Zelensky in denouncing attack on nuclear plant

US President Joe Biden joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in urging Russia to cease its military activities in the area where a nuclear plant had been shot and was on fire, and allow firefighters and emergency responders to access the site.

02:29 AM

Safety of nuclear power plant now secured

Ukrainian authorities say the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is now secured, AFP reports.

A fire broke out at the plant when it came under fire from Russian forces.

The director of the plant, Oleksandr Starukh, said “the nuclear safety is now guaranteed.”

02:22 AM

Only fourth power unit working at stricken plant

The third third power unit at the stricken nuclear power plant has been shut down with only the fourth working, reports local media.

02:16 AM

In pictures: Anti-tank hedgehogs laid out in Kyiv

02:07 AM

Power plant explosion could be ‘10 times larger than Chernobyl’

An explosion at the nuclear plant where a fire has broken out could be 10 times larger than Chernobyl, said Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs.

Firefighters have been prevented by Russian fire from putting out the blaze which erupted on Friday.

01:30 AM

‘No threat of radiation from power plant fire’

There is no threat of radiation spreading from the fire at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya, the plant’s spokesperson has reportedly said.

The plant, which provides up to 25 per cent of the country’s power generation, was struck by Russian bullets and rockets on Thursday, with elevated levels of radiation detected shortly after, according to officials.

01:15 AM

Footage of fire at power plant

A video shared on social media appears to show CCTV footage of the fire at the Zaporizhzhia plant:

01:14 AM

Today’s top stories

• Vladimir Putin vowed to “seize the whole of Ukraine” and made clear that “the worst is yet to come” as he drew up plans to crush dissent in Russia by imposing martial law

• Putin insisted on Thursday that the invasion was “going strictly to schedule”, despite claims from Ukrainian officials that 9,000 Russian soldiers have been killed

• There is increasing criticism of the war by influential Russians and businesses, including the country’s second-biggest oil and gas company

• Putin told Emmanuel Macron in a phone call that he would achieve his military aims “whatever happens” and would continue fighting until “the end”

• Videos emerged of tearful Russian prisoners of war calling on their countrymen to rise up against Putin

• Putin could announce martial law in Russia at an extraordinary session of the Russian parliament on Friday

• The White House confirmed for the first time that it was sharing real-time intelligence with Ukraine

• In the UK, the Government announced sanctions against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov – a former shareholder in Arsenal FC – and Igor Shuvalov, a former deputy prime minister of Russia