Zelenskyy states how many Russian military personnel present at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant 

He shared the information in an interview with the French TV channels TF1 and LCI.

 "There are 500 militants there, they have explosives, they are all armed, they give out food, water by the hour to the technical staff. The station is not working. Could there be an explosion? It depends on the people inside. I think everything depends on these 500 militants," noted Zelensky.

 The head of state also once again commented on the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons and called it a weakness.

 "The use of nuclear weapons in modern times, no joke, is a serious matter and speaks of inadequacy and weakness. This is World War III. In addition to the war, this is millions of victims. This is a complete transformation into the ruins of one or another city, state and the world. This is a complete inadequacy, these are mentally ill people who are capable of doing it who are ready for it, they talk about it. These are simply inadequate people, they need to see a doctor, not society," the president said.

He also stated that the seizure of the ZNPP in order to cut off the electricity supply to Ukrainian civilians is not a "special military operation" but terrorism.

• On December 17, the CIA said it saw no clear evidence of Russia's plans to use tactical nuclear weapons.  Most likely, Russia uses such statements as an intimidation tactic.