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Charisa Bossinakis
Russian forces are firing rockets at the Institute of Physics & Technology - home to a nuclear reactor in Kharkiv, which could result in a 'large-scale ecological disaster' according to Ukraine's national security service.
Ukrainian foreign minister Emine Dzheppar said the Institute houses the Neutron Source nuclear research facility, containing 37 nuclear fuel cells in its core.
She said: "The Russian aggressor fired hail at the Institute's territory, where the Neutron Source nuclear facility is located, with 37 nuclear fuel cells loaded into its core.
"Destruction of a nuclear installation and storage facilities for nuclear materials can lead to a large-scale environmental catastrophe."
The Russian Defense Ministry has pointed the finger back at Kyiv, accusing the Ukrainian military of bombing their own Institute so they can blame Russia for triggering an environmental disaster.
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"The Ukrainian military and the Azov battalion militants are planning to blow up the reactor and accuse the Russian Armed Forces of allegedly launching a missile strike on an experimental nuclear system," the statement said.
This attack comes just days after a Russian military targeted Zaporizhzhia - Europe's largest power plant.
Facility spokesman Andrei Tuz said in a video posted on the plant’s Telegram account: “As a result of shelling by Russian forces on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, a fire broke out."
International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi also said the Russian military has ‘effective control’ on the nuclear site, as well as Chernobyl.
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russian forces were honing in on the nuclear sites from ‘all sides’, raising concerns that if the facility explodes, it will be '10 times larger than Chernobyl'.
"Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone! (sic),” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.
CCTV cameras live-streamed the attack on YouTube captured the attack - which lasted for several hours.
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As the presence of the Russian military continues, with more attacks occurring every day, many civilians are attempting to flee Ukraine as Putin says he will only halt the invasion ‘only if Kyiv ceases hostilities.’
AP News reported many supplies are running short in Mariupol, where many civilians attempted to flee during an 11-hour cease-fire; however, Ukrainian officials said that the Russian military quickly closed the humanitarian corridor.
Interior Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko said on Telegram: “There can be no ‘green corridors’ because only the sick brain of the Russians decides when to start shooting and at whom.”
However, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukrainians to take to the streets and fight the resistance.
Over the weekend, he addressed the nation, stating: “Ukrainians! In all our cities where the enemy entered. Feel it. Go on the offensive.
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You need to go out and drive this evil out of our cities.”
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.