Kremlin warns 'high' threat of Ukraine sabotage on nuclear plant

Russia and Ukraine have regularly accused each other of putting the plant’s safety at risk

The Kremlin warned Wednesday that Kyiv could be preparing a provocation at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, a flashpoint of concern in the conflict in Ukraine.

"The situation is quite tense because the threat of sabotage from the Kyiv regime is really high – sabotage that could have catastrophic consequences," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The comments come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Russia was planning "dangerous provocations" at plant, the largest in Europe.

Also read: What are the risks facing Zaporizhzhya, the nuclear power plant in a war zone?

Russia and Ukraine have regularly accused each other of putting the plant's safety at risk since the Kremlin launched large-scale hostilities in Ukraine last February.

"The Kyiv regime has repeatedly demonstrated its readiness not to rule anything out. Most recently, we saw this during the explosion of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, also with horrific consequences," Mr. Peskov said.

Kyiv and its allies say Moscow's forces last month destroyed the Russia-controlled Kakhovka dam, flooding huge swathes of the Kherson region, leaving dozens dead and forcing thousands to flee.