Russia on Thursday mentioned Ukraine was risking a nuclear catastrophe after 9 Ukrainian drones have been shot down by Russian forces close to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station, Europe’s largest atomic energy plant.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, which has been below Russian management since early March 2022, has six Soviet-designed VVER-1000 V-320 water-cooled and water-moderated reactors containing Uranium 235.

Four of the reactors are shut down whereas two of the reactors – No. 4 and No. 5 – are in so-called ‘sizzling shutdown’ mode, based on the Russian operator of the plant.

“The Kyiv regime continues to carry out provocations with the aim of creating the threat of a disaster at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and disrupting the rotation of employees of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” Russia’s defence ministry mentioned in an announcement.

The ministry mentioned Russian air defence forces had shot down 9 Ukrainian drones close to the Russian-held metropolis of Enerhodar.

The IAEA has repeatedly mentioned that the world is lucky that

no nuclear accident

has but occurred on the Zaporizhzhia plant the place the Agency says nuclear security stays extraordinarily fragile.

Shortly after sending troops into Ukraine in 2022, Russian forces took management of the Zaporizhzhia station. Both Ukraine and Russia have accused one another of attacking the station.