News - Middle East: Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Ukraine’s attacks on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant could lead to “catastrophic consequences.”

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 “special military operation” in the ex-Soviet country on February 24. Ukraine accuses Russia of storing heavy weapons in the plant. Moscow denies the allegation.

The plant has come under fire repeatedly in recent weeks, raising concerns of a potential Chernobyl-style nuclear incident after the site was hit by shelling.
Both Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of targeting the facility.

In a phone call with the French leader on Sunday, Putin “drew attention to regular Ukrainian attacks on (Zaporizhzhia nuclear) facilities, including a radioactive waste storage facility, which is fraught with catastrophic consequences,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin said Russian specialists at the plant were working to ensure its safety. He said Moscow was ready to continue work with the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to agree on “non-politicized” solutions to problems at the facility, the statement said.

Despite the attacks, the Ukrainian staff continues to operate Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency said earlier in the day that the final reactor at Zaporizhzhia was shut off as a safety measure.