Russia on Friday called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure that Ukraine it won’t bomb the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, assuring that the plant is otherwise operating safely.

Alexei Likhatsov, CEO of the Russian State Nuclear Safety Corporation Rosatom, made the statement during a meeting with IAEA/IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in the Russian city of Kaliningrad, Rosatom said, following Grossi’s visit to the plant last week.

“We expect concrete measures from the IAEA to prevent shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces, both at the Zaporizhia nuclear plant and the adjacent area and critical infrastructure,” Rosatom said in its statement, citing a statement by its chief.

The IAEA announced this week that the power plant is “struggling with water-related challenges” as well with the destruction of the Kahovka Dam the huge reservoir on the southern bank of which the factory is located was emptied.

He also announced that the military situation in the region was becoming increasingly tense as Kiev launched a counter-offensive against Russian forces that have taken control of parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.

Moscow and Kiev often blame each other for the bombing of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, with its six reactors out of service. International efforts to create a demilitarized zone around it have so far been fruitless.

Ukraine this week accused Russia of planning a “terrorist” attack on the plant involving a radioactive leak, while Moscow detained five people today which he said planned to smuggle radioactive casium-137 at the request of a Ukrainian buyer in order to stage a nuclear accident.