Russia-Ukraine War Live Updates: Nuclear Scare As Power Plant Shelled, Humanitarian Crisis Grows.

 Three dead in Russia attack on nuclear power plant, Ukraine says

16m ago / 10:31 AM UTC

Three Ukrainian soldiers were killed after Russian forces had shelled the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company said on its Telegram channel Friday.

Two more soldiers were wounded — one was said to be in a critical condition. No staff at the station were injured.

Yesterday evening local time, Russian occupiers stormed through the entrance of the nuclear power plant, and began firing on it, the company said. The nuclear facilities remain undamaged and intact.

“Zaporizhzhya NPP is many times more powerful and dangerous than Chernobyl,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk, chair of Ukraine's Parliament. “Russian occupation forces are deliberately shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.”

Moscow Stock Exchange remains shut for fifth consecutive day

 10:02 AM UTC

Moscow Stock Exchange was closed Friday, making it the fifth consecutive day of not trading as it tries to protect local stocks from immediate sale.

The Bank of Russia announced in a statement that there would be no trading, with only limited exceptions allowed.

Russian companies listed in foreign stock exchanges continued to plummet on Thursday. The London Stock Exchange suspended trading for 27 Russian-linked companies on Thursday, its CEO David Schwimmer told CNBC.

The Exchange's opening hours for Saturday will be announced at 9.00 a.M. Local time on Saturday (1 a.M. ET), the bank said.

NBC News

 9:18 AM UTC

Stanislav, 40, says goodbye to his son David, 2, and his wife Anna, 35, on a train to Lviv at Kyiv station, Ukraine on Thursday.

Russian troops have encircled the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, as confirmed by the U.K.'s Ministry of Defense.

Although there have been recurring attacks from Russian forces, a strategic city on the Azov Sea still remains under Ukraine’s control, officials said. 

The city's "civilian infrastructure has been subjected to intense Russian strikes," the ministry said in a tweet.

In an update posted to Facebook on Friday morning, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that, "having a significant advantage in technique, the enemy surrounded Mariupol." 

As Russian forces have advanced, there have been reports of residents being cut off from water, power and food supply in the city, according to Reuters.

Russian military forces have occupied Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine after a night of heavy shelling, the State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation has confirmed.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remained intact, and though there was damage to the reactor compartment of one unit, it did not affect the unit's safety, the state inspectorate said on Facebook, according to an NBC News translation. 

A fire broke out at a training facility at the plant after Russian shelling earlier Friday, sparking concerns that an explosion at the facility could be worse than the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. It was later extinguished. 

The plant’s personnel are monitoring the condition of the units, and no changes in radiation status have been recorded, the state office said. 

Russia Invades Ukraine

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg denounced on Friday the "brutal" Russian invasion of Ukraine, and condemned attacks on civilians and on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, southeastern Ukraine.

"We condemn the attacks on civilians. And over the night, we have also seen reports about the attack against the nuclear power plant," Stoltenberg said in a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ahead of a meeting with Western foreign ministers in Brussels.

“This just demonstrates the recklessness of this war and the importance of ending it and the importance of Russia withdrawing all its troops and engaging good faith in diplomatic efforts," Stoltenberg added.

He said that while NATO allies have "implemented unprecedented sanctions" on Russia and provided "support" to Ukraine, "NATO is not part of the conflict."

"We don't seek war, conflict with Russia.

"At the same time, we need to make sure that there is no misunderstanding about our commitment to defend and protect all Allies."

He said that NATO forces have increased their "defensive presence" in the eastern part of the Alliance.

Stoltenberg also called on the US, Europe and Canada for support.

"I welcome the strong commitment from the United States with more troops," he said.

"I met many of them. And it is always great to meet US troops in Europe and to see their commitment, and their professionalism, being part of the transatlantic bond.

"I also welcome that European Allies and Canada are stepping up with more presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, on land, at sea and in the air.

"If anything, I think the crisis we are faced with now demonstrates the importance of North America standing together in strategic solidarity in NATO," he added.

Also reacting to the attack, UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told BBC Breakfast, “It’s very difficult to believe that it wasn’t done deliberately. But in any event, it is unlawful to attack a site like this and not to do your due diligence on it and to keep bombarding it.”

Russian forces have occupied Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant following a fire at the facility early on Friday, Ukrainian authorities have said.

The fire was extinguished in the early hours of Friday morning.