Londoners with family living near Ukrainian nuclear plant fearful of what happens next

Londoners with family near the site of Thursday night's explosion at a nuclear power plant in Ukraine feel anxious and scared as Russia's invasion continues for its ninth day. 

The war in Ukraine raised a new global alarm Thursday after Russian forces attacked a key nuclear plant in the city of Enerhodar, in the country's south. Officials say the fires that ensued have now been extinguished and that no radiation leaks have been detected.

"It seems like they're a Suicide Squad ... It's death for us, it's death for the Russian troops, it's death for [all of] Europe, and it even will affect North America," said Volodymyr Komarov, who lives in London, Ont.

His parents live close to Enerhodar and can see the nuclear plant from their apartment windows. Komarov said his parents are staying at a bomb shelter.

"Just from a human being perspective, if you're sitting on the tank and pressing the trigger, how can you attack a nuclear power plant? It makes no sense. And I really hope that it doesn't blow up because my [parent's] house is very close to it," he said. "If the world doesn't stop [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, we're all going to die. And it's just insane."

While Komarov said he appreciates all the help and aid Londoners are offering to Ukrainians, he said what the European country needs to see is political action. 

"Politicians and people who are making decisions need to act very quickly. They need to act right away. They need to stop [Putin]," he said.

After the attack on the nuclear plant, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with world leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Meanwhile, Russia continued other attacks on cities throughout Ukraine overnight.

'It's not just the problem of Ukraine. It's the problem of the whole world'

Komarov's wife Olha Tymoshchuk is shaken up by how quickly things have evolved. Her family lives further away from the nuclear plant compared to Komarov's, but said the fear of what may happen is too great. 

"Every day that I open the news, I'm reading that our army fights against it and tries to protect our cities. And I have faith and hope, but on the other hand, I don't know," she said.

"Today, they attacked and they didn't probably get the coordinates right ... but I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow."

"It's not just the problem of Ukraine. It's the problem of the whole world," she said.

"[Putin] is threatening the whole world with nukes. He tried to attack our nuclear power station and I don't understand how long the world will watch this insanity."