Inside Chernobyl: We stole Russian fuel to prevent disaster

The former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl in northern Ukraine was taken over by Russian forces on the first day of the invasion

The former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl in northern Ukraine was taken over by Russian forces on the first day of the invasion. It's now back under Ukraine's control, Qazet.az reports.

The BBC's Yogita Limaye, who was among the first journalists to look inside it since the Russians left, spoke to staff at the plant, who were allowed to continue working when the occupation began.

"We had to constantly negotiate with them, and try hard not to offend them, so that they allowed our personnel to manage the facility," said engineer Valeriy Semonov.

When power to the station was cut off for three days, Valeriy said he scrambled to find fuel to keep the generator running, even resorting to stealing some from the Russians.