Kiev on Tuesday accused Moscow of planning a “provocation” at the Russian-held Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. On the other hand, an adviser to the Russian state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom denounces a planned Ukrainian “attack” on the facilities.

The Ukrainian army warned of “preparation of provocation in the area of ​​the Zaporizhia station in the near future.” It claims that “objects resembling explosive devices were placed on the roof of reactors 3 and 4.” He claims that the Russians’ aim is not to damage the generators, but to “give the impression of shelling from the Ukrainian side”, believing that Moscow will attempt to misinform on this issue.

In Moscow, the adviser to the head of the Russian giant Rosatom, Renat Karcha, accused Kiev of planning an attack on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. “We received information today that I am authorized to disclose. On the night of July 5, in complete darkness, the Ukrainian army will attempt to attack the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant,” he claimed on Russian television. Ukrainian forces plan to use “precision, long-range weapon systems” and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has been under the control of Russian troops that invaded Ukraine since March 4, 2022. Since then it has been at risk from attacks that took place near its facilities, while it was cut off several times from the electricity network. According to Kiev, the Russians maintain military force and weapons inside the facility.

In May, the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, which is in the territory controlled by Russian forces, raised concerns about the reservoir that supplies the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant to cool its six reactors.

On June 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of preparing a “terrorist attack” by leaking radioactivity from the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. The Kremlin rejected the accusations, calling the Ukrainian president’s claims “false”.