RUSSIA has this evening CAPTURED Chernobyl after launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Reports just after 7pm Ukraine time (5pm GMT) claimed Russian forces had taken workers at the former nuclear power plant hostage.

An adviser to the Ukrainian President, Mykhailo Poldoliak, told reporters: “After a fierce battle, our control over the Chernobyl site was lost.

“The condition of the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant, confinement, and nuclear waste storage facilities is unknown.”

Vladimir Putin this morning declared a “special military operation” in Ukraine with a dawn raid after months of amassing his forces on the border and brazenly lying to the world about his plans to invade.

The world today woke up to what could the most horrific military crisis since World War 2 as Putin seeks to tear down the world order.

Read our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up to the minutes updates…