Russia's actions to seize the Chernobyl nuclear power plant directly violate Article 56 of the 1977 Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishina said.

"Nuclear power plants and other facilities nearby, even military ones, should not be attacked - this could lead to the release of dangerous forces and further heavy losses," she tweeted.

Stefanyshyna said that according to paragraph 5 of Article 85 of this protocol, violations in the Chernobyl zone can be considered war crimes in the case of severe civilian casualties.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the loss of control over the nuclear and radiation facilities of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant poses a threat to the entire continent.

Recall that earlier Ukraine informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the loss of control over the facilities in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant due to a military attack by Russia. This was reported by the UNN, citing information on the IAEA website.