UN's nuclear watchdog chief condemns shelling at Zaporizhzhia plant

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of 'nuclear terrorism'

The Zaporizhzhia plant was captured by Russian forces in early March but it is still run by its Ukrainian technicians. Photo: Reuters

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has raised grave concerns about shelling at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, saying the action risked causing a disaster.

Both sides accused each other on Saturday of engaging in "nuclear terrorism".

Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear power company, blamed Russia for the damage while Russia's defence ministry accused Ukrainian forces of shelling the plant, which is in the country's south-east.

"I'm extremely concerned by the shelling yesterday at Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which underlines the very real risk of a nuclear disaster," said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

Mr Grossi, who leads the UN's nuclear watchdog, urged all sides in the Ukraine conflict to exercise the "utmost restraint" around the plant.

Shells hit a high-voltage power line on Friday at the facility, prompting its operators to disconnect a reactor despite no radioactive leak being detected.

The plant was captured by Russian forces in early March in the opening stage of the war but it is still run by its Ukrainian technicians.

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Energoatom said Russia wanted to disconnect the station from the Ukrainian electricity system and cause blackouts in the south of the country.

Moscow's forces, it said, had placed weapons and explosives in two of the power-generating units and mined the shoreline outside the plant.

"It is highly probable that all of this will cause a nuclear and radiation disaster," it said on Saturday.

Russia's defence ministry said damage to the plant had been avoided thanks to the "skilful, competent and effective actions" of its units.

Mr Grossi said that military action jeopardising the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia plant "is completely unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs".