Ukrainian leader: Russian forces trying to seize Chernobyl

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant. The plant was the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident when a nuclear reactor exploded in April 1986, spewing radioactive waste across Europe. The plant lies 130 kilometers north of the capital of Kyiv. The exploded reactor has been covered by a protective shelter to prevent radiation leak and the entire plant has been decommissioned. Zelenskyy said on Twitter that Ukrainian forces were fighting to protect the plant. He added that “this is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.”