Putin warns of large-scale catastrophe amid Ukraine attacks on Zaporizhzhia

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has raised the alarm about the repercussions of Ukraine's “systematic shelling” of the Moscow-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

He says the attacks are likely to create a large-scale catastrophe.

In a phone call with his counterpart Emmanuel Macron of France on Friday, Putin “stressed that the systematic shelling by the Ukrainian military of the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant creates the danger of a large-scale catastrophe that could lead to radiation contamination of vast territories.”

The Kremlin said Putin and Macron underscored the importance of independent inspections at the Zaporizhzhia, calling on the experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the plant "as soon as possible" and "assess the real situation on the ground."

"The Russian side confirmed its readiness to provide the Agency inspectors with the necessary assistance," the Kremlin said.

Meanwhile, the French presidency said in a separate statement that Macron "supported the dispatch of a mission of experts from the IAEA to the site under conditions agreed by Ukraine and the United Nations." It later announced the Russian president had dropped his demand that the IAEA team travel to the Zaporizhzhia site via Russia, saying it could arrive via Ukraine "in respect of Ukrainian sovereignty."

According to the Elysee, the Russian and French leaders plan to speak again "in the coming days on this subject after talks between the technical teams and before the deployment of the mission."

Zaporizhzhia is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and among the 10 largest in the world. Russian forces seized the plant soon after Moscow launched its ongoing military offensive in the ex-Soviet country on February 24. Ukraine accuses Russia of storing heavy weapons in the plant. Ukraine's top nuclear official has said that 500 Russian soldiers and 50 pieces of heavy machinery, including tanks, trucks, and armored infantry vehicles, are at the site. The plant has come under fire repeatedly in recent weeks. Both Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of targeting the facility.

In a statement on Thursday, Russia's Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of planning a "provocation" at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, saying that Kiev would carry out its plan during UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' visit. The ministry, however, did not provide any evidence.

Ukraine preparing 'provocation' during UN chief's visit to nuclear plant: Russia

Russia has accused Ukraine of planning a "provocation" at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control.

The ministry said there were no Russian heavy weapons at the nuclear reactor complex, located near the city of Enerhodar in southeastern Ukraine, or in nearby districts.

Earlier this month, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called on the West to pressure Kiev to stop bombarding Zaporizhzhia. "The shelling of the territory of the nuclear plant by the Ukrainian armed forces is a potentially extremely dangerous activity... fraught with catastrophic consequences for a vast area, including the territory of Europe.”

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