Day 167 of the Invasion of Ukraine: Zaporizhzhia to hold a Referendum on Joining Russia

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Zelensky: Lack of new sanctions increases the nuclear threat

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Zaporizhzhia NPP could become a new Chernobyl. Europe's largest nuclear power plant is currently at the center of the conflict. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for shelling the plant last week.

In his regular video address last night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for new international sanctions to affect Russia's nuclear capabilities. The reason is the alleged missile strikes against the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia.

"There is already an appropriate reaction from the international community, but sanctions must be increased because Russia does not respect messages and concerns. New sanctions are needed against the terrorist state and the entire Russian nuclear industry because of the threat of a nuclear catastrophe," the Ukrainian president said.

Zelensky reiterated that the war in Ukraine should not be seen as a frozen conflict and that his country's goal is to regain all lost territories. The Ukrainian head of state thanked the air defense forces for intercepting Russian missiles fired from the Black Sea, which could have claimed dozens of lives.

Moscow and Kyiv blame each other for the strikes on the plant, which is under Russian control. Shelling over the past few days has damaged several structures, forcing the shutdown of one reactor. The Kremlin has warned that the alleged strikes could have "catastrophic consequences".

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a halt to the shelling, saying any attack on a nuclear plant is "suicidal<...