Fear of a nuclear meltdown after Russia attacks a Ukrainian power plant, the largest in Europe.

President Zelensky sounding the alarm saying Western leaders need to, quote,

wake up and act immediately.

This, as Russia continues to target major cities populated with civilians.

Three questions this morning.

How soon before humanitarian aid reaches those in need?

Will anything come from the NATO meetings now underway?

And will Vladimir Putin take the Ukrainian president up on his offer to meet face-to-face?

Good morning and welcome to way too early on this Friday, March 4th.

I'm Jonathan Lemire.

Another day of bloodshed across Ukraine as Russian forces lay siege to many cities targeting civilian areas, including residential buildings.

That's the explosion after Russian military strikes hit an apartment complex and two schools in Ternaheve in the northern part of the country. Local officials say at least 33 were killed and 18 injured in the strikes, while rescue work had to be temporarily suspended

due to subsequent heavy shelling. This, as Russian troops encircled and blocked another key port

city in the north, creating what local authorities say is a humanitarian catastrophe. Officials say

the city is without heat, water, and power due to the constant shelling.

Russians also captured their first major port city of Hursan yesterday after intense fighting.

And while heavy bombardment continued in Kiev, that miles-long convoy outside the capital

has made little progress over the last three days.

According to a senior U.S. official,

Moscow has now moved 90% of its troops that were amassed around Ukraine inside the country.

Russian forces also now control Europe's largest nuclear plant after shelling the facility

located in southern Ukraine. One of the power station's six reactors caught fire.

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