Chernobyl, site of world's worst nuclear disaster, falls to Russian forces

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been captured by Russian forces, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said on Thursday.

"It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians," he said.

"This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today," Podolyak said.This comes hours after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces were trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.

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“Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated,” Zelenskyy said on Twitter, adding, “This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.”

The nuclear plant - the site of the world's worst nuclear accident - lies 130 kilometers north of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital city.

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(With input from AP, Reuters)