LAST UPDATE | 4 Mar 2022

RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE seized control of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant that caught fire overnight during clashes, as the ninth day of the invasion of Ukraine continues. 

Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, was shelled after fighting erupted between Russian troops pushing towards the city of Zaporizhzhia and Ukrainian defenders, causing a blaze at the plant.

The Ukrainian nuclear regulator said that the fire has since been extinguished and no radiation leak has been detected, with staff still able to work at the Zaporizhzhia site.

Western leaders have condemned the Russian attack on the plant, while Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned it will be the “end for Europe” if an explosion occurs due to Russian forces shelling the plant.

Here are the main points you need to know today:

• Russian forces seized control of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant after a battle with Ukrainian troops that caused a fire and fears of a catastrophic accident.
• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded tougher sanctions against Russia following the shelling and seizure of the nuclear plant.
• The head of the UN nuclear watchdog offered to travel to Chernobyl to negotiate with Ukraine and Russia on ensuring the security of Ukraine’s nuclear sites.
• Russia’s media watchdog restricted access to several independent media websites, including the BBC, in a bid to tighten control over the internet in the country.
• Lawmakers in Russia approved legislation providing up to 15 years in jail for any publication of “fake news” about the Russian armed forces.
• The BBC said it was temporarily suspending the work of its journalists in Russia after Moscow backed the imposition of jail terms on media publishing “false information” about the military.
• Russian police this morning carried out searches at the office of the country’s most prominent rights group, Memorial, which was ordered to close late last year.
• The Civic Assistance Committee, Russia’s most prominent migrant aid centre, said that it’s offices were also being searched by Russian police.
• The Kremlin called on Russians to rally around President Vladimir Putin in response to a question on pleas from public figures to end the war.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the war in Ukraine might not be over soon and that the US and European allies must sustain tough pressure on Russia until it ends.
• United Nations figures showed that more than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia’s invasion, with UNICEF estimating that around half a million of them are children.
• The Department of Transport is engaging with the European Commission on a proposal to ban Russian ships from docking at European ports, according to an Irish Government source.
• Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said that Ireland was among the nations that has requested a UN Security Council meeting on Russia’s attack last night on Europe’s largest nuclear plant.
• Russian state-controlled news channel RT was banned from broadcasting in Ireland after an EU ban on the channel came into effect on Wednesday.
• The Irish Families Through Surrogacy group said that surrogate mothers in Ukraine and their families are being offered help to leave the country if they choose to. 
• An appeal on The Late Late Show this evening has raised more than €2.2 million so far for the Irish Red Cross to support Ukraine. Visit donate.redcross.ie to donate.
• A protest in support of the people of Ukraine will take place at 2pm outside the GPO in Dublin tomorrow.
• The UK Ministry of Defence said that the port city of Mariupol currently remains under Ukrainian control, “but has likely been encircled by Russian forces”. 
• Ukraine and Russia agreed to create humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians yesterday in a second round of talks since the invasion began. 
• The European Union decided to grant temporary protection to refugees from Ukraine last night that will enable them to live, work and study in EU countries.
• If you’re a Ukrainian travelling to Ireland, here’s what you need to know (Якщо ви – українець, який в’їжджає до Ірландії, ось що вам потрібно знати)