According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the connection to the power grid in the contested Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has again been interrupted. The last still functioning main line to the external network failed again, the electricity is being forwarded via a reserve cable, the IAEA announced on Saturday.

A similar incident had already occurred after a shelling last week, the nuclear authority added. Also on Saturday there were reports of a shelling of the plant. The Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow on Saturday accused the Ukrainian army of wanting to recapture the nuclear power plant despite the presence of international nuclear experts.

250 soldiers and "foreign mercenaries" were involved in the operation. The Russian army claims to have repelled the attack and destroyed several boats in the process. According to the Defense Ministry in Moscow, 47 "militants" have been killed. This information could not be independently verified.

The Ukrainian military in turn accused Russia of carrying out attacks in the direction of Zaporizhia on Saturday night. Details were not given in the army report.

Russian media reported that a power line was damaged in the fighting. As a result, the power supply to the areas still under Kiev control was interrupted by the Russian-occupied nuclear power plant, it said.