Ukraine Targets Russian Soldiers Threatening Europe's Largest Nuclear Power Plant

As G7 nations feared a nuclear disaster, Ukraine is targeting Russian soldiers who shoot at Europe's largest nuclear power station or use it as a base.

Ukraine and Russia have accused one other of attacking the southern Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia complex many times. Russian troops captured the station early in the war.

"Every Russian soldier who either fires at the plant, or shoots using the plant as cover, must understand that he becomes a special target for our intelligence agents, for our special services, for our army," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared Saturday evening.

Zelenskiy, who did not disclose any information, repeated assertions that Russia was using the plant as nuclear blackmail.

The facility dominates the south bank of a huge Dnipro reservoir. Ukrainian soldiers commanding the towns and cities on the opposite bank have come under intensive assault from the Russian-held side.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak accused Russia of "targeting the portion of the nuclear power plant where theenergy that powers the south of Ukraine is generated."

"The idea is to separate us from the (plant) and accuse theUkrainian army for this," Podolyak stated on Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) (NYSE:TWTR).

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is attempting to assess the plant, has warned of a nuclear calamity unless violence ceases. Nuclear specialists fear fighting would damage the plant's spent fuel pools or the reactors.

United Nations head Antonio Guterres has advocated for the construction of a demilitarised zone around the Zaporizhzhia complex, which is still being maintained by Ukrainian specialists.

For weeks, Kyiv has planned a counteroffensive to retake Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces, the major chunk of the region Russia took after its Feb. 24 incursion.

Russian and Ukrainian soldiers fought for control of Chornobyl, the still-radioactive site of the world's worst nuclear accident, sparking fears of a tragedy.

RIFT DEEPENS

Russia's invasion, which it calls a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" its smaller neighbour, has pushed Moscow-Washington relations to a low point, with Russia saying it may terminate ties.

The United States has led Ukraine's Western allies in giving it with weaponry to defend itself and harsh sanctions against Moscow.

On Friday, a senior Russian official said Moscow had warned Washington that if the U.S. Senate passed a measure labeling Russia a "state supporter of terrorism," diplomatic ties may be severed.

On Saturday a senior Russian foreign ministry official warned that any seizure of Russian assets by the United States would entirely ruin bilateral relations, TASS reported.

"We warn the Americans of the adverse effects ofsuch measures that will permanently destroy bilateral relations,which is neither in their nor in our interests," said AlexanderDarchiev, head of the ministry's North American Department. He didn't specify which assets.

Darchiev added "Americans are increasinglybecoming more and more a direct party in the conflict" due to U.S. influence on Ukraine.

Ukraine requested a no-fly zone to protect its skies from Russian missiles and jets, but the US and Europe declined out of fear of being drawn into the war.