Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Ukraine continues to bomb the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, deliberately creating the threat of a possible nuclear disaster, according to Reuters.

Shoigu said Russian forces were taking “every measure” to secure Europe’s largest station in the face of what he called “nuclear terrorism” from Kyiv.

Ukraine denies bombing the facility, which has been under the control of Russian forces since the first days of the war, and blames Russia for the attacks.

“Our units are taking all measures to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Soigu told his military leadership during a teleconference, a shortened transcript of which was released by the Defense Ministry, according to Reuters.

“For its part, the Kyiv regime is trying to create the appearance of a threat of a nuclear disaster by continuing the deliberate bombing of the facility,” he added.

“Nuclear terrorism”

According to Shoigu, over the past two weeks, Ukraine has fired 33 large-caliber projectiles at the plant. According to him, most of them were intercepted by Russian air defense, although “some are still hitting objects that interfere with the safe operation of the nuclear power plant.”

“We classify these attacks by Ukrainian troops as nuclear terrorism,” he added.

Reuters could not independently verify Shoigu’s claims.

Both Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of attacks on the facility. Kyiv also accused Moscow of using the plant as a weapons warehouse.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog, is pushing for a safety zone around the plant, fearing a potential disaster similar to Chernobyl in 1986.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Tuesday about “positive dynamics” in negotiations with the IAEA regarding this idea, the TASS news agency reported with reference to Reuters.

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