Ukraine says Russians hold Chornobyl NPP staff without rotation

The Ukrainian Energy Ministry has said that the Russian occupying forces have kept the personnel of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant for two days, blocking their regular rotation, which is against technical safety rules.

Russians have also seized control of the new safe confinement over the Shelter facility, generating units No 1 and No 2, nuclear waste storage facilities No 1 and No 2.

The Energy Ministry said the seizure of the plant and any military actions in the exclusion zone risk a repetition of the Chornobyl disaster.

The State Nuclear Regulation Inspectorate of Ukraine registered an increase in the radiation level in the Chornobyl zone after the Russian invasion.