Summary

  • The Russian and French presidents have called for international inspectors to visit the Zaporizhzhia power station

  • They spoke on the phone and agreed a mission by the UN's nuclear agency, the IAEA, should take place as soon as possible, the Kremlin says

  • Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling the Russian-occupied plant and risking a nuclear accident

  • UN chief António Guterres says Russia should not cut the power plant off from Ukraine's grid

  • It follows claims from Ukraine's nuclear agency that Moscow is preparing to do so

  • Meanwhile the US has announced a $775m military aid package for Ukraine, including funding for rocket systems and howitzers

  • Satellite images show a long queue of traffic in Crimea heading towards Russia - after explosions struck a military base there

Live Reporting

Edited by Heather Sharp and George Bowden

  1. Russia wants to disconnect power plant from Ukrainian grid - Ukraine energy company

    Zaporizhzhia power plantReuters

    Russian forces around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant aim to disconnect energy produced there from the Ukrainian power system, Ukrainian officials say.

    It is the largest nuclear power station in Europe and has been under the control of Russian forces since March, but has continued to function.

    Energoatom, the state power company that operates the plant, says the Russian occupiers are preparing to stage a "large-scale provocation" there.

    It also says the Russian military is looking for suppliers of fuel for diesel generators, which would need to be turned on if power units are shut down.

    All station personnel - except for those essential to the running of the plant - have been told to stay at home.

    Russia has rejected international appeals to demilitarise the area, amid concern for the safety of the nuclear plant. Russia has also accused the Ukrainians of provocation at the plant, and each side has accused the other of shelling the facility.

    Map showing Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and crimea.

  2. Welcome back - more worries about Europe's largest nuclear plant

    Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. Here are the latest developments:

    • Ukraine's Energoatom state nuclear company says Russian forces are planning to switch off functioning power blocks at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and disconnect them from the Ukrainian power grid
    • It said it believed that Russia, which controls the power plant in southern Ukraine, is preparing to conduct a "large-scale provocation" there
    • Yesterday Moscow in turn accused Kyiv of preparing its own "provocation" at the site
    • Meanwhile, the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula appears to have come under another series of attacks - the third in 10 days. At least four explosions were reported overnight near Belbek air force base near Sevastopol but it's unclear what exactly happened
    • Russian-appointed local officials said air defences had shot down a Ukrainian drone, while claiming the blasts had caused no damage. Russia blamed sabotage for an attack earlier this week on an ammunition depot in Crimea