Rutte to Ukrainians, ‘We are family’ nuclear power plant taken by Russians

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Rutte against Ukrainians

The largest nuclear power plant in Europe was taken by the Russians on Friday morning, local authorities report. This happened after the Russians shelled the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, causing fire. 

Prime Minister Mark Rutte addressed the Ukrainian people in a video message on Thursday evening: “We are family.”

Developments follow each other in quick succession. We therefore list the most recent events for you several times a day. Subscribe to the ‘Ukraine update’ tag to be notified when we post such an overview again.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was “attacked from all sides” by Russian ground forces during the night from Thursday to Friday, according to the Ukrainian foreign minister. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Russians of “nuclear terrorism” and “a repeat of Chernobyl”.

 The shelling has since stopped and auxiliary troops have managed to reach and extinguish the nuclear power plant. The Russians then took over the area, local authorities said.

The fire broke out in a training building. Essential parts of the nuclear power plant would have remained untouched. Local authorities previously reported that the situation in Zaporizhzhia is under control and that radiation levels around the nuclear power plant are “normal”.

US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Ukrainian President Zelensky. They called on Russian troops for a ceasefire around Zaporizhzhia after sustained shelling was carried out on the complex. Zelensky accused the Russians of “nuclear terrorism” and “a repeat of Chernobyl”.

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has called in a “nuclear emergency team” to monitor the situation around the Ukrainian nuclear power plant . Granholm writes on Twitter that the reactors of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe are well protected thanks to “robust constructions”. 

According to Granholm, the reactors have now been safely shut down.

An emergency center of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA is also monitoring the “serious situation” 24 hours a day. IAEA Director Rafael Gross writes on Twitter that he is “deeply concerned” and has spoken with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. 

He has requested Shmyhal to maintain close contact with the operator of the nuclear power plant.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will investigate reports of humanitarian abuses by Russia in Ukraine. The US and 44 other countries that are members of OSCE are participating in the investigation, the US State Department

Rutte to Ukrainians, ‘We are family’ nuclear power plant taken by Russians

reported Thursday (local time).

The websites of Facebook and independent media such as BBC News and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle will be inaccessible in part of Russia on Friday. Both local journalists from the AFP news agency in Moscow and GlobalCheck, a group that monitors the internet connection, report the blockade.

Europe previously announced that it would block access to news sites of Russian state media RT and Sputnik . Britain already feared that the blockade could lead to a similar action by Russia, making European media in the country no longer accessible.

A suspicious backpack was found on Thursday evening at the Russian consulate in The Hague. After an investigation by the Explosive Exploration Team (TEV), the bag was taken away by the police. What was inside is under investigation, a police spokesperson said.

The police cordoned off the area around the building on Scheveningseweg for some time. An investigation by the TEV showed that the deployment of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (EOD) was not necessary, the spokesman said. “We now want to know how the backpack got there and who left it behind.” 

According to him, the backpack was inside the gate of the consulate grounds.

Rutte to Ukrainians, ‘We are family’ nuclear power plant taken by Russians

Ukrainians in the United States who cannot return home because of the war are given protected status. They will be temporarily exempted from deportation and given a work permit, writes the US Department of Homeland Security. From March 1, tens of thousands of Ukrainians will be allowed to live and work in the US for a period of 18 months. 

The Netherlands Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) also announced that it will be more lenient with residence applications from Ukrainians in the near future.

Prime Minister Rutte addressed the Ukrainian people in a video message . Rutte encouraged the residents of Ukraine and expressed his appreciation for Ukrainian President Zelensky. “We are family,” he said.

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