Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today issued a veiled threat to Ukraine's Western allies who accused Russia of creating the risk of a nuclear disaster by stationing forces around Ukraine's Zaporozhye power plant.

- Ukraine accused Russia of carrying out attacks on Ukrainian positions in that location, knowing that Ukrainian forces could not risk retaliating. Russia, on the other hand, accuses Ukraine of shelling the plant. "They (Kyiv and its allies) say it is Russia. It's obviously 100% nonsense, even to the stupid Russophobic public," Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, wrote on Telegram, adding: "What can I say? Let's not forget that the European Union also has nuclear power plants. And accidents can happen there."

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said shelling Zaporozhye, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, could cause a nuclear disaster. Kyiv and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have called for the demilitarization of the area.

Russia seized the Zaporozhye headquarters in March following the February 24 invasion of Ukraine, but the site is still operated by its Ukrainian staff. Kyiv said the compound was hit five times on Thursday, including near where radioactive materials are stored.

Russian-appointed officials said Ukraine shelled the plant twice, Russian state news agency TASS reported.