Russia plans to monitor the operation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after the official annexation of the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine this week, the state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday, citing an official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Russia seized the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in early March shortly after invading Ukraine, but Ukrainian personnel continued to operate it.

Since then, both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of bombing the facility, risking a nuclear disaster.

“The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is now located on the territory of the Russian Federation and, accordingly, must be operated under the supervision of our specialized departments,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Vershinin, quoted by RIA Novosti.

It is unclear how Russia plans to operate the plant and whether it will try to introduce its personnel to the complex.

Another Russian news agency, TASS, reported that Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog, will visit Moscow in the coming days to discuss the situation at the nuclear power plant.

Ukraine is considering restarting Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, to ensure its safety just weeks after fears of a radiation disaster at the Russian-occupied facility, the president of the plant’s operator told The Associated Press on Tuesday. news.ro.

Russia annexed Zaporozhye and three other regions after holding so-called referendums – votes that Kyiv and Western governments denounced as illegal and coercive. Moscow does not fully control any of the regions.