Russian troops in Ukraine have seized Chernobyl power station and taken staff as hostages, as advisors to the Ukrainian president admitted they "do not know" the condition of its nuclear waste storage facility.
It was reported earlier a battle had broken out near the remains of the nuclear plant, around 60 miles from Kyiv, between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
Now it appears Moscow has seized the site of the worst nuclear accident in world history with experts suggesting it is a key location as soldiers can now march directly to the country's capital city.
Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the head of the president’s office chillingly warned: "After a fierce battle, our control over the Chernobyl site has been lost.
"The condition of the facilities of the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant is unknown. This is one of the most serious problems in Europe today.
"It is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe.
"This is one of the most serious threats to Europe today. Knowing the habits of the Russians, they are probably already preparing provocative things at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
"Either they will use the damage received by the facilities during the attack to blame Ukraine for this, or they will damage these undoubtedly most dangerous facilities themselves."
Russian soldiers are said to have attacked the radioactive area from the side of Belarus before engaging local forces in fierce fighting.
Videos from the scene showed Russian tanks stood outside an administration building to the east of the ruined plant which remains highly radioactive.
Earlier presidential advisor Alena Shevtsova confirmed the Russians are in control of the area and are holding the personnel hostage.
Their condition is currently unknown.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, said Russia declared war on the whole of Europe by storming into the radioactive zone of Chernobyl.
He put on Twitter: "Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the #Chornobyl_NPP.
"Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. Reported this to @SwedishPM. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe."
The Chernobyl disaster in then-Soviet Ukraine sent clouds of nuclear material across much of Europe in 1986 after a botched
safety test in the fourth reactor of the atomic plant.
The attack comes hours after Russia launched its assault on neighbouring Ukraine with forces attacking by land, sea and air.
Dozens are said to have already been killed as shells were launched at its major cities.
After Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war in a pre-dawn televised address, explosions and gunfire were heard
throughout the morning in Kyiv, a city of 3 million people.
Missiles rained down on Ukrainian targets and authorities reported columns of troops pouring across Ukraine's borders from Russia and Belarus to the north and east, and landing on the southern coasts from the Black Sea and Azov Sea.
