Ukraine condemns Russian nuclear 'blackmail' on Chornobyl anniversary

Local resident attends a ceremony marking the 37th anniversary of the disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Alina Yarysh

SLAVUTYCH, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine marked the 37th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster on Wednesday by urging the world not to bow to Russian "blackmail" over nuclear facilities it has seized during its invasion.

Former workers at what was then known as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) began commemorative events, holding an overnight vigil in the northern town of Slavuytch to remember victims of the world's worst nuclear accident on April 26, 1986.