After the attack on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant: "It could be a second Chernobyl"

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine

»Today the occupiers have created another extremely risky situation for all of Europe.

They twice attacked the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.

Any bombing of the facility is a shameless crime, an act of terror."

In his video address, President Zelenskyy called on Russia to take responsibility for the "act of terrorism".

Russia had denied the allegations and blamed the Ukrainian government for the attack.

Pictures allegedly taken after the attack on the nuclear power plant were published on social networks, but they cannot be independently verified.

According to the nuclear power plant operator, three attacks took place on the factory premises near a nuclear reactor.

A high-voltage line to the neighboring thermal power plant had been damaged, but no radioactivity had escaped.

The nuclear power plant near the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar is the largest in Europe.

It was brought under Russian control in March but continued to be operated by Ukrainian personnel.

Enerhodar, Ukraine

Residents here are afraid that fighting in the region could lead to disaster.

Vasily, former employee at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant

«Of course it is very dangerous.

It could be a second Chernobyl - or worse.«

The city has been occupied by the Russian military since early March.

Again and again there have been failures in the electricity and water supply, people pick up their food rations from contact points for humanitarian aid;

concern for the nearby power plant is great here.

VOLODYMYR MARTYNYUK, Volunteer

"As residents of the city, we call on the Russian army and Ukrainian armed forces to avoid open fighting in the Enerhodar area and in a 20-kilometer zone around the nuclear power plant. It is about the safety of the entire planet , not only about the security of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia and the neighboring countries."

Lyubov, former employee at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant

»There is chaos everywhere.

Am I wrong?

If there is chaos, how can there be control at the same time?

We want peace and quiet.

We want people on both sides to stop losing their lives for no reason.

We lived our lives, but what about our children and grandchildren?”

Another attack in the Zaporizhia region on Friday was aimed at a grain warehouse. According to the Ukrainians, Russian rockets have also hit here, more than 300 tons of stored grain and seeds lie under the rubble.