Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the UN on Thursday to “guarantee the security” of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the target of several attacks, while receiving Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Volodymyr Zelensky denounced on Telegram the “deliberate terror” caused by Russia, which “may have major catastrophic consequences for the entire world.”

“The UN must therefore ensure the security of this strategic site, its demilitarization and its complete liberation from Russian troops,” he added.

Heavy weapons on the floor?

Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of the bombings that targeted the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant (south), the largest in Europe, under the control of the Russian army since March, raising the specter of a major disaster in Europe.

Ukraine has been accusing Moscow for weeks of storing heavy weapons at the Zaporizhia power plant and using it as a base for attacks on Ukrainian positions. He also assures that the Russian forces are shooting at the power plant they occupy to accuse Kyiv of these bombings.

Moscow on Thursday denied deploying heavy weapons at the plant, saying it only had units providing security. Russia, in turn, accuses Kyiv of preparing a “resounding provocation” on the spot during the UN Secretary General’s visit to Ukraine.

To ensure the safety of the site and allow for an inspection mission, Antonio Guterres and the United States last Thursday called for the establishment of a demilitarized zone around the plant, a long-standing request from Ukraine.