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Ukraine war: 'Russia using nuclear plant as cover to shell us' Ukraine war: 'Russia using nuclear plant as cover to shell us'
(about 2 hours later)
A covered Russian tank outside the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on 4 AugustA covered Russian tank outside the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on 4 August
Russian forces at Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine are employing "terror tactics" by using the site to launch rocket attacks on civilians, the BBC has been told.Russian forces at Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine are employing "terror tactics" by using the site to launch rocket attacks on civilians, the BBC has been told.
"Every morning we wake up and see that they have hit only residential homes," a local businessman told us."Every morning we wake up and see that they have hit only residential homes," a local businessman told us.
Russia controls the Zaporizhzhia plant and surrounding areas, close to Ukrainian-held territory.Russia controls the Zaporizhzhia plant and surrounding areas, close to Ukrainian-held territory.
Western officials have sounded the alarm about Russia's tactics there.Western officials have sounded the alarm about Russia's tactics there.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant lies in the south-east of Ukraine along the eastern bank of the Dnipro river. It is currently still being operated by Ukrainian employees under Russian supervision.The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant lies in the south-east of Ukraine along the eastern bank of the Dnipro river. It is currently still being operated by Ukrainian employees under Russian supervision.
It consists of six pressurised water reactors and stores radioactive waste.It consists of six pressurised water reactors and stores radioactive waste.
In its daily intelligence update, the UK defence ministry said Russia was using the area to launch attacks - taking advantage of the "protected status" of the nuclear power plant to reduce the risk of overnight attacks from Ukrainian forces.In its daily intelligence update, the UK defence ministry said Russia was using the area to launch attacks - taking advantage of the "protected status" of the nuclear power plant to reduce the risk of overnight attacks from Ukrainian forces.
The head of the UN's nuclear agency, Rafael Grossi, warned this week that the plant was "completely out of control".The head of the UN's nuclear agency, Rafael Grossi, warned this week that the plant was "completely out of control".
A Russian-installed official in the region told Reuters news agency that Ukrainian forces are using Western-supplied weapons to attack the plant.
Any accident at the power station could have catastrophic consequences.Any accident at the power station could have catastrophic consequences.
The assessment reflects the views of civilians in nearby Nikopol, which lies across the Dniper river and is still under Ukrainian control. The assessment reflects the views of civilians in nearby Nikopol, which lies across the Dnipro river and is still under Ukrainian control.
"Our forces don't shoot back because the 30km zone around the power station is sacred. You don't want to shoot there. But the Russians are terrorists. There's nothing sacred to them," the local businessman, who did not want to be named, told the BBC."Our forces don't shoot back because the 30km zone around the power station is sacred. You don't want to shoot there. But the Russians are terrorists. There's nothing sacred to them," the local businessman, who did not want to be named, told the BBC.
"It's meant to scare us," he continued, explaining that rockets have hit Nikopol every night since the middle of July."It's meant to scare us," he continued, explaining that rockets have hit Nikopol every night since the middle of July.
"It's not only people in Nikopol who are scared of a nuclear accident," the Nikopol businessman said. "It's the biggest nuclear plant in Europe. If there's an accident, it won't only be local to Nikopol. It would have consequences for the whole world." A former employee of the plant, who is still in contact with colleagues but is now in Ukrainian territory, told the BBC that as well as firing rockets from the area around the plant, Russian forces had moved some military hardware into one of the main buildings.
Ukraine has previously said that Russian forces have stationed troops and are storing military equipment on the power station's grounds. The BBC can't verify the claim, but Ukraine's atomic energy agency has reported the same thing.
The American ambassador to Ukraine has also said there are "credible reports" that Russian forces are using the plant "as the equivalent of a nuclear shield" . The UN's nuclear watchdog has warned several times about the difficult conditions for staff working at the power plant, and wants access to inspect the site.
But a Russian-installed official in the region told Reuters news agency that Ukrainian forces are using Western-supplied weapons to attack the plant. The former employee, who worked at the plant for several weeks under Russian occupation before leaving, said the Russian soldiers in charge of the plant generally left the workers alone, but their presence caused psychological difficulties.
Russia shelled the plant when it was seized, leading to an international outcry. Many employees are unable to leave the occupied area because "they are afraid of losing their salaries, afraid to leave their relatives, or afraid of the Russians taking over their homes after they go".
Watch: Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant appears to be on fire following shelling.Watch: Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant appears to be on fire following shelling.
Watch: Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant appears to be on fire following shelling.Watch: Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant appears to be on fire following shelling.