(TJVNEWS)
Ukraine’s government has confirmed that the Chernobyl power plant site has been seized by Russian forces. “The Prime Minister made the announcement in a televised briefing, saying Russian troops had taken control of the zone and the nuclear power plant,” Bloomberg confirms.
“The facility is located about 80 miles (129km) north of Kyiv, several miles south of the Belarus border. Holding Chernobyl would provide Russian troops a staging point that couldn’t be shelled,” the report adds, in reference to the potential for dangerous radioactive fallout given the permanent presence of nuclear waste there. Speculation remains that should the site come under direct shelling, there could be nuclear contamination released into the air, potentially impacting other areas in Europe.
The first video from the captured Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Ukraine’s PM Shmyhal has confirmed that the exclusion zone and all the NPP facilities have come under the control of the Russian forces. pic.twitter.com/D1da62UiRV
— Tadeusz Giczan ?? (@TadeuszGiczan) February 24, 2022
Earlier today: Advisor to Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko said that Russian troops from the territory of Belarus entered the zone of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (NPP).
Gerashchenko stressed that “if a nuclear waste storage facility is destroyed as a result of enemy artillery strikes, then radioactive dust can cover the territories of Ukraine, Belarus and the EU countries!”
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.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2022
Meanwhile, Russia’s air war continues to intensify.
Soon after the initial attack which also included cruise missile launches, which likely came from Russia’s Black Sea fleet, Kiev authorities cited “hundreds” of Ukrainians killed, including civilians, Zero Hedge blog chronicled
It’s believed that much of Ukraine’s command and control military infrastructure was targeted and hit in the first wave, also as Ukraine border guards were attack, with some reports of soldiers fleeing the Russian advance. Moscow has declared safe passage for any Ukrainian soldier laying down their arms.
Ukraine’s state emergency service has also said a Ukrainian military plane was downed, which killed five people. This as surreal battlefield footage continues to evidence the ferocity of an air war in progress.
Ukraine national police and emergency services have said there’s been fighting throughout the entire country, with Russia conducting over 200 attacks, with severe clashes ongoing in various parts of Ukraine.
Video of a dangerously close air-to-ground strike. Unclear of purpose or target. pic.twitter.com/CKIVjRWEyN
— Global: MilitaryInfo (@Global_Mil_Info) February 24, 2022
Stunning videos from on the ground show what can be described as an ongoing air war on Kiev and several other cities across the country. Tanks have also been seen speeding across Ukraine’s border from Belarus, with widespread reports that Belarusian soldiers are mounting the attack alongside Russian troops, Zero Hedge reports.
Confirmed by Ukrainian authorities. A large air assault operation with Mi-8 helicopters on Antonov International Airport in Hostomel. Interior Ministry says Russia has seized control. Very dangerous; it’s just 15 minutes west of the capital ring road. pic.twitter.com/JhlyVktVRC
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 24, 2022
A group of Russian helicopters was attacked using man-portable air defense systems (or RPGs).
Countermeasures are active.20 km to Kiev. Vyshgorod, Kiev region. pic.twitter.com/iRL2SsaO7q
— War News? (@AlphaW4r) February 24, 2022
⚡️Bridge on the way to Kherson. The column of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is on fire. There is a fight pic.twitter.com/qP3tPn0TTO
— War News? (@AlphaW4r) February 24, 2022
Video pic.twitter.com/3s6HldT3xC
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 24, 2022
Russian Ka-52 shot down in Hostomel from up close. You can clearly see the ‘Belarusian’ V marking. One of the pilots has been taken prisoner. pic.twitter.com/EymYhnohoe
— Tadeusz Giczan ?? (@TadeuszGiczan) February 24, 2022
Footage of Russian soldiers hoisting the Russian flag on a hydroelectric plant building in Nova Kakhovka, 60km into Ukrainian territory. The Crimean front appears to have collapsed pic.twitter.com/nn4rThddZn
— Tadeusz Giczan ?? (@TadeuszGiczan) February 24, 2022
Military airport in Lutsk, Ukraine destroyed. Tactical strikes on military installations continue. pic.twitter.com/YBDBRDlQQ9
— Live Monitor (@amlivemon) February 24, 2022
Russia has gone on the offensive.
⚠️It is reported about the assault on the city of Odessa.
You can find out about this and more at Politaur. pic.twitter.com/SXCOVqqJ45
— War News? (@AlphaW4r) February 24, 2022
