The Chernobyl nuclear plant staff is being shelled by Russian troops, escalating nuclear threats.

Fears have been raised that increased volatility in the area could lead to another disaster.

The UN nuclear watchdog has expressed “concern” about Russian forces shelling Ukrainian checkpoints in Slavutych.

The incident occurred “just a few days after technical staff at the Chernobyl (plant) were finally able to rotate and go to their homes in Slavutych and rest after working for nearly four weeks without a change of shift,” according to its director-general Rafael Grossi.

On February 24, Russian forces took control of the plant, forcing around 100 Ukrainian technicians to work for nearly four weeks without being rotated.

The news comes as Boris Johnson has been described by the Kremlin as the “most active anti-Russian leader.”

As Nato leaders gathered in Brussels, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov singled out Johnson after he urged the West to sanction President Putin’s gold reserves.

“We see him as the most active participant in the race to be anti-Russian,” Dmitry Peskov said. “It will lead to a dead end in foreign policy.”