Ukraine accuses Russia of 'nuclear blackmail' over Zaporizhzhia plant

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia on Thursday of "nuclear blackmail" over its seizure of the Zaporizhzhia power plant in southern Ukraine.

Russia captured the plant in March, shortly after invading Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin ordered his government on Wednesday to take control of it. The plant is Europe's largest, and Ukrainian staff have continued to operate it.
"(The) capturing of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (stands) for nuclear blackmail and for exerting pressure on the world and on Ukraine," Zelenskiy said in a video address to the Sydney-based Lowy think tank via a translator.

"You're not using the weapons, but you can still be blackmailing by not having the nuclear power plant working for the people - the people are not receiving the electricity."

Before the Russian invasion, the plant provided Ukraine with about one-fifth of its electricity.