Zelenskyy accuses Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' on 40th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster
The Ukrainian leader accused Russia of "once again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of "nuclear terrorism" as he marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.
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The Ukrainian leader took to social media on Sunday to commemorate the lives lost in the aftermath of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl on April 26, 1986.
A reactor in the power plant exploded sending radioactive material across Europe and the then-Soviet Union, but Russia didn't acknowledge the disaster until two days later when higher radiation levels were recorded in Sweden.
Dozens of people died in the direct aftermath of the explosion, but it is believed that the impact has affected a significantly higher number of people.
A structure was built over the damaged building to contain the radiation, however, since the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine this has been damaged.
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Mr Zelenskyy said in a statement on the anniversary: "Through its war, Russia is once again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster – Russian-Iranian 'shaheds' regularly fly over the plant, and one of them struck the confinement last year.
"The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks."
He added that the Russians dug "military positions" in restricted forests, destroyed equipment, drove military equipment across the land, and fired from the area.
The President went on to say that Russia has turned the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant "into an instrument of their war".
During an outbreak of fighting at Zaporizhzhia when the Russian military seized the power plant, a bullet pierced the outer wall of one of the reactors and an artillery shell hit a transformer at another.
It has been under Russian control since 2022.
Mr Zelenskyy added: "When the world deals with Russia, everyone must understand that they are dealing with a completely irresponsible – and in many ways simply reckless – force that must be truly constrained for the sake of the security of us all."