Radiation at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has exceeded control levels after Russia troops took control of the area, Ukraine has said.

       Data from the automated radiation monitoring system of the exclusion zone, which is available online, indicate that the control levels of gamma radiation dose rate, which show up as red dots, have been exceeded at a significant number of observation points, its parliament said in a statement.

       The statement added that it is "currently impossible to establish the reasons for the change in the radiation background in the exclusion zone because of the occupation and military fight in this territory."

       Russia's defence ministry claimed that the radiation levels coming out of the power plant are normal. Moscow said it would send paratroopers to the area to help secure it, the Russian defence ministry added in a statement.

       A spokesman claimed that Russian troops have destroyed 118 Ukrainian military infrastructure sites. Fighting continued in cities across Ukraine on Friday morning during day two of Russia's invasion of its neighbour.

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       Missiles pounded the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in early morning raids as Russian forces pressed their advance.

       Map shows radiation levels about control levels

       (Ukraine parliament)

       Russian forces’ movements since the invasion began

       (Press Association Images)

       Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian President pleaded with the international community to do more, saying sanctions announced so far were not enough.

       Air raid sirens wailed over the city of 3 million people, where some were sheltering in underground metro stations, a day after Vladimir Putin, the Russian president launched an invasion that has rocked the world.

       A Ukrainian official said a Russian plane had been shot down and crashed into a building.

       Claire Corkhill, professor of nuclear material degradation at Sheffield and an advisor to the UK government, said it looked possible there had been a "spike" in gamma radiation at the site.

       "This appears to be based on a single data point, so caution should be taken not to over-interpret at this stage," she said.

       "Around the Chernobyl power plant, the gamma radiation looks to have increased by around 20 times compared with a few days ago".

       Professor Corkhill added that areas where radiation levels had increased most, were near main routes in and out of the site. She suggested that could mean the increased movement of people or vehicles may have "disturbed" radioactive dust.

       "This is backed up by the fact that in some areas of the zone, there is no increase at all," she added." "It shows that any release of radioactivity is probably highly localised."

       The highly radioactive fuel material within the reactor at Chernobyl is buried deep within the base and underneath the new safe containment structure.

       The professor concluded that it seemed "very unlikely" that radiation would be released from this area unless it was directly targeted.

       The Ministry of Defence says it is "highly likely" Russian forces have captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

       A statement from the MoD said: "Russian forces have highly likely captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Workers have reportedly been detained by Russian troops."

       In an intelligence update just after 1am, the MoD also said it is "unlikely" Russia achieved its planned objectives for the first day of its military action in Ukraine.

       "The Ukrainian Armed Forces have reportedly halted Russia's advance towards Chernihiv," the MoD statement said.

       "Fighting probably continues on the outskirts of the city.

       "It is unlikely that Russia has achieved its planned Day 1 military objectives. Ukrainian forces have presented fierce resistance across all axes of Russia's advance."

       Experts at the state nuclear agency did not provide exact radiation levels but also said the change was likely due to the movement of heavy military equipment in the area lifting radioactive dust into the air.

       "Radiation starts to increase. It is not critical for Kyiv for the time being, but we are monitoring," the interior ministry said.

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       The still-radioactive site of the 1986 nuclear disaster lies some 100 kilometres from Kyiv.

       Ukraine's neighbour Poland said it had not recorded any increase in radiation levels on its territory.