THE mode of nuclear power plant her Zaporizhia is suspendedin case there is any “provocation” by Ukrainian forces, the Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing the Russian-appointed governor of this Ukrainian province.

Russia seized nuclear power facilities during the first days of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Ukrainian military is expected to soon launch its long-awaited counteroffensive to retake Ukrainian territory. Potentially, among these territories is Zaporizhia, from where in recent days the Russians have been evacuating residents of communities close to the front line. It is estimated that 3,000 people, including 1,000 children, have been displaced from their homes.

“We saw the level (of water in the nearby Kahofka Reservoir) rising to 17.08 meters. We realize this is a maneuver. The nuclear reactors have been temporarily stopped,” Yevgeny Balitsky was quoted as saying, according to TASS, without elaborating.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said recently that all six reactors at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant are already in a “cold shutdown” state, meaning they are not producing electricity but are still loaded with nuclear material. Grossi warned Saturday that the situation around that unit is “potentially dangerous.” The IAEA has previously issued warnings about the safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, as the bombardment has temporarily cut off power to it.