Ukraine war: Zelensky warns Russian soldiers at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Any Russian soldiers who shoots at or under the cover of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is a “special target” for security services, Ukraine has warned.

In a video address, President Volodymyr Zelensky also accused Moscow of using the plant – Europe’s largest – as “nuclear blackmail”.

Russia seized the facility in southern Ukraine in early March.

The plant has been shelled in recent days, with Ukraine and Russia blaming each other for the attacks.

The six-nuclear reactor Zaporizhzhia plant is located in the city of Enerhodar, on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnieper River (Dnipro in Ukrainian). Russia has kept Ukrainian personnel to operate the facility.

During his address late on Saturday, Mr Zelensky said Russia had engaged in “constant provocations” by firing on the plant and said forces stationed there had used it as a base to shell the cities of Nikopol and Marhanets – on the other bank of the river.

“Every Russian soldier who either shoots at the plant, or shoots under the cover of the plant, must understand that he is becoming a special target for our intelligence, for our special services, for our army,” the president said.

He added that “every day” of Russia’s occupation of the plant “increases the radiation threat to Europe”.

Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency also accused Russia of a provocation by parking a Pion self-propelled heavy artillery piece outside a nearby town and painting a Ukrainian flag on it, in an attempt to discredit Kyiv.

Russia has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing at the plant.

The foreign ministry in Moscow says it seized control of the plant to prevent leaks of radioactive materials during fighting in the region.

Agencies