Putin’s troops tell Ukrainian workers at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to ‘take holiday’ sparking nuke disaster fears

VLADIMIR Putin’s troops have told workers at Europe’s biggest nuclear plant to “take holiday” – sparking fears of a nuke disaster. The Zaporizhzhia  plant has been in the hands of Putin‘s forces since the early stages of the Ukraine war, with the world staring down the barrel of another radiation nightmare. AFPUkraine has been holding out nuclear drills in case of a disaster at Zaporizhzhia[/caption] AFPThe plant has been under Russia’s control since the early days of the invasion[/caption] Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has said staff have been told to take days off amid fears Putin may unleash a false flag attack. They said: “Representatives of the occupational service of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant continued “short-term holidays” for the Ukrainian personnel.” It comes after Russia is believed to have moved military equipment into the station, according to Canadian intelligence. Authorities in Ukraine are preparing for a Chernobyl-like disaster at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia site as the station lies on a knife-edge. More on Ukraine PUTIN'S PAL HURT 'Ukraine war mastermind' in hospital after bombing that killed daughter PUTIN ON A SHOW Kyiv puts Putin's captured tanks on display in humiliating blow for tyrant Ukraine has run nuclear accident drills in the bombed out city of Zaporizhzhia – the closest to the Russian occupied plant. A terrifying map has revealed leaks from the power station could spread hundreds of miles and affect 13 different countries. Russia’s own Ministry of Defence warned this week of a potential accident which could send radioactive waste as far as Germany. It claimed that the plant’s backup system was damaged, but blamed Ukrainian forces for nearby missile strikes. Most read in The Sun JOSHUA VS USYK 2 AJ breaks down in TEARS after points defeat, Usyk calls out Tyson Fury 'Welcome to Hell' Inside drug-plagued town with boarded-up high street dubbed ‘death row’ STAYING BEHIND Coronation Street spoilers: Dylan drops a bombshell on dad Sean ON THE COBBLES Corrie cast look nothing like their characters at Millie Gibson's leaving do 'mAmma's girl' Katie Price's daughter Princess stuns fans as she looks just like famous mum BILL HELP The energy firms who AREN'T paying £400 bill rebate directly to your bank account Ukraine has claimed a nuclear catastrophe could take place at Zaporizhzhia, with the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky saying his scientists are in “constant touch” with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The plant has been in the hands of Putin‘s forces since the early stages of the Ukraine war, but nuclear inspectors say they have not been permitted inside. In March, Ukraine warned of a nuclear disaster “ten times larger than Chernobyl” after Russian forces shelled the plant from the nearby city of Enerhodar. The Chernobyl nuclear leak in 1986 was the worst man-made disaster in history, contaminating 150,000 square kilometres of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. Radiation was detected as far away as the north of Scotland, with rain bringing the highest doses to Cumbria in northern England and the Welsh counties of Clwyd and Gwynedd. Fears are growing of a potential “provocation” attack on the Zaporizhzhia plant today after Russia reportedly ordered its staff not to show up for work on Friday. Read More on The Sun GET SCHOOLED I'm a mum-of-two and here's how to survive the school year TIME OF OUR LIFE What Dirty Dancing cast did next - from surgery hell to lonely drugs death Around 500 Russian troops from the Rosgvardia, Putin’s personal guard, are currently stationed at the plant, along with some 20 Kremlin nuclear specialists. Several hundred Ukrainian employees are also still working at the plant. AFPUkraine is preparing for the worst as Russia refuses to give up control of Zaporizhzhia[/caption]