Ukraine's Zelensky calls on West to sanction Russia over nuclear terrorism

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has called for Western governments to sanction Russia over Moscow's supposed nuclear terrorism. Kiev has been accused of shelling a power plant in Zaporozhye, which is controlled by Russia.

Ukraine accused Russia on Saturday of firing rockets at the facility. Zaporozhskaya, which is Europe's largest nuclear power plant, is located in Ukraine's southern Zaporozhye Region. Officials did not explain why Moscow's troops would aim weapons at themselves.

In a post on Sunday, Zelensky said he had spoken with European Council President Charles Michel and briefed him on the battlefield situation in Ukraine, in particular at the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant Russian nuclear terror requires stronger response from the international community, and he wants the West to impose sanctions on the Russian industry and nuclear fuel. Ukraine accused Russia on Saturday of firing rockets at the facility. Zaporozhskaya, which is Europe's largest nuclear power plant, is located in Ukraine's southern Zaporozhye Region.

The Kiev claims have been echoed in the Western media, but the plant has been under the control of Russian forces since February, and Moscow has accused Ukrainian forces of shelling. Russia appealed to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency to force Ukraine to stop firing on the plant.

Although the EU has passed seven successive packages of sanctions on Russia since February, it has not targeted the country's nuclear industry. Europe relies on Russia to provide about 20% of its uranium, and the state s nuclear energy firm, Rosatom, operates plants in Hungary, Slovakia and Finland, though cooperation with the Russian firm has been suspended at the Finnish installation.

In the past few years, French nuclear firm EDF has also signed a series of cooperation deals with Rosatom.