Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant has been shelled by Russian forces in Ukraine - with a fire breaking out, writes Sky News.

Local politicians initially said that firefighters were unable to get close to the scene in Energodar because they were being shot at - but a team of 40 people and 10 units have now extinguished the blaze.

Ukrainian officials have said there is a “real threat of nuclear danger”, with foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba warning: “If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chernobyl”.

But the International Atomic Energy Agency has said that the fire has not affected essential equipment or caused radiation levels to change.

US officials have also stressed that reactors at Zaporizhzhia power station are protected by robust containment measures, and are now being safely shut down.

A video on the plant’s YouTube channel appears to show large explosions at the power station.

Ukraine’s president gave an emotional speech overnight in which he warned an explosion at the nuclear power plant could spark “the evacuation of Europe”.

Mr Zelenskyy added: “Only urgent action by Europe can stop the Russian troops. Do not allow the death of Europe from a catastrophe at a nuclear power station”.