KYIV, Ukraine 

Russian tanks have entered a town near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry on Thursday. 

No more details were provided yet by the ministry.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and among the top 10 largest in the world.


Last month, Ukraine said it also lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the country’s north after a fierce battle with Russian forces.

Ukraine has 15 operational nuclear reactors at four sites in the country, providing roughly half of its electricity, which the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said on Thursday continue to operate normally.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has met international outrage with the EU, US and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

According to UN figures, 227 civilians have been killed and 525 injured in Ukraine since the start of the war. Ukrainian authorities, however, put the death toll at over 2,000.

More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, the UN Refugee Agency said.