Russian troops have surrounded Europe’s largest nuclear power plant which houses six reactors out of 15 in Ukraine.

On Wednesday civilians and staff staged a blockade stopping Russia forces from entering the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in the city of Enerhodar.

There are fears that patience has been lost with the troops and the Russian will now use brutal force to break through.

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Mayor Dmytro Orlov warned resident’s that a large Russian convoy is approaching the city and he told them that should not to leave their homes.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog have expressed their concerns and have asked Russia to allow staff to do their jobs to keep all six nuclear reactors safe.

The Russian government had informed the watchdog that troops have now surrounded the nuclear power plant, Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.

Russian officials wrote a letter to the IAEA and insisted that Ukrainian staff at the plant are still to “work on providing nuclear safety and monitoring radiation in normal mode of operation.”

Ukrainian state enterprise running the country’s nuclear industry, Energoatom accused Russia of “openly terrorizing employees of the station and residents of its satellite city Energodar.”

The Interior Monistry, Anton Gerashchenko, said in a Facebook post, “Russian generals – change your minds!

“Do not create conditions for the new Chernobyl! Radiation knows no nationalities, one does not spare anyone! Go around the Energodar and Zaporizhzhya.”

Grossi told the IAEA board of governors meeting in Vienna, “It is of critical importance that the armed conflict and activities on the ground around Zaporizhihia nuclear power plant and any other of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities in no way interrupts or endangers the facilities or the people working at and around them.”

The US deputy envoy to the IAEA, Louis Bono, said, “The Ukrainian staff at the site have not been allowed to leave and have been forced to work multiple shifts.

“This added stress on staff performing critical tasks further jeopardizes the safety and security of the site and the public.”

Grossi added, “It is of utmost importance that the staff working at [the Chernobyl plant] are able to do their job safely and effectively, and that their personal wellbeing is guaranteed by those who have taken control,”