Russia's Defense Minister Tuding Ukraine Implements Nuclear Terrorism At PLTN Zaporizhia

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu chaired a coordination meeting of military officials. (Wikimedia Commons/mil.ru/Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday Ukraine continued to bombard the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, deliberately creating a possible threat of a nuclear disaster.

Defense Minister Shoigu said Russian forces were taking "all measures" to ensure the safety of power plants, Europe's largest, in the face of what he called Kyiv's "nuclear terrorism".

Ukraine denies firing at the facility, which has been under the control of Russian troops since the first days of war, instead, accusing Russia of firing at the plant.

"Our unit is taking all measures to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant," Defense Minister Shoigu told his military leaders during a conference call.

"In turn, the Kyiv regime is trying to create an impression of the threat of a nuclear disaster by continuing to bombard the site," he added.

Defense Minister Shoigu further said Ukraine had fired 33 large-caliber bullets at the plant in the past two weeks.

Most have been intercepted by Russian air defenses, he said, although "some are still hitting objects that affect safe operations from nuclear power plants".

"We classify this Ukrainian force attack as nuclear terrorism," he said. Reuters was unable to independently verify the claim.

Both Moscow and Kyiv blame each other for the attack on the facility. Kyiv also accused Moscow of using the plant as a de facto gun depot.

Separately, the United Nations nuclear watchdog - the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - is pushing for the creation of a security zone around the plant, fearing potential disasters like Chernobyl.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday there was a "positive dynamic" in discussions with the IAEA regarding the idea, the TASS news agency reported.