"The Kiev regime continues provocations with the aim of creating a threat of a man-made disaster at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and disrupting the rotation of staff of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Zaporozhye NPP," the ministry said in a statement.
At about 12:30 Moscow time (09:30 GMT), in the area of the city of Energodar, on-duty air defense systems detected and intercepted nine Ukrainian copter-type UAVs, the statement read.
Located on the left bank of the Dnepr River and near the city of Energodar, the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is the largest facility of its kind in Europe. The station consists of six units, each capable of producing one gigawatt of power. Since October 2022, the plant has been under Russian control, following Moscow's liberation of the region.
Meanwhile, Energodar and its surrounding areas have continually been targeted by Ukrainian forces. Russia has consistently warned that the Kiev regime is shelling the plant in an effort to cause a nuclear catastrophe and shift the blame onto Moscow.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu earlier pointed out that the Zelensky regime seeks to create the appearance of an imminent nuclear disaster by continuing to deliberately shell the Zaporozhye nuclear plant. In response, the International Atomic Energy Agency has called for the establishment of a security zone around the station.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian forces continue to bombard the plant, casting a shadow over the safety of this critical facility.