Russian forces have taken control of the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and have notified the UN’s nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi, the agency’s director-general, said Wednesday afternoon.

Grossi said staff at the plant, which is one of the largest power plants in Europe and has six of Ukraine’s 15 nuclear reactors, had resumed work while radiation levels “remained normal” at its facilities.

Earlier on Wednesday, about 20 helicopters with Russian paratroopers flew from the Mykolaiv area to the town of Voznesensk, where the nuclear power plant is located, while residents from a neighbouring town and workers of the unit had reportedly taken to the streets with the intention of blocking Russian forces.

Ok looks like new orders. This is from the city hosting Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Enerhodar. Not good – are they going to use this as nuclear blackmail as well? pic.twitter.com/6guZL6LBO7

— JskSrs (@juliaskripkaser) March 2, 2022

This morning the Russian army claimed it had seized control of Kherson, it what would be the first takeover of a major Ukrainian city since Putin’s troops invaded last week.

Residents and employees of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant do not let the invaders pass into the city! pic.twitter.com/6xoXG09wvg

— UkraineEnglishUpdates (@EnglishUkraine) March 2, 2022

Overnight Russian paratroopers landed in the eastern city of Kharkiv, attacking a local hospital and sparking immediate clashes with defence forces on the ground.

And Russia’s military yesterday warned residents to leave the Ukrainian capital Kyiv ahead of a fresh wave of planned strikes as a 40-mile long column of tanks and artillery continues to snake towards the city.