<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed calls by the UN unclear agency for a safety protection at the&nbsp; Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The plant has been occupied by Russia since the start of the war and it has come under repeated attack since, with both sides blaming each other.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The UN says that the shelling of Europe's largest nuclear power station must end immediately.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shelling could cause unlimited release of radioactive materials, it said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a report published on Tuesday, following last week's much-awaited visit, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that the presence of Russian military equipment on site could undermine its security.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shelling continued while a 14-strong IAEA team visited the site last week and its head, Rafael Grossi, warned at the time of a very real risk of nuclear disaster. Although most of the team left the plant after two days, it said two of its officials would remain there on a permanent basis.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Zelensky said he would support the safety zone if it aimed to demilitarise the territory of the nuclear plant. Mr Zelensky said the report noted the presence of Russian military hardware on the territory of the plant and referred to pressure on employees, alongside "clear references to the Russian military occupation".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The plant lies on the southern bank of the River Dnieper, across the water from Ukrainian-held towns and military positions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Tuesday, Russia accused Kyiv of hitting the area three times in 24 hours. Ukraine says Russian forces have used the plant as a shield from which to fire on nearby cities, although Russia insists it is guarding the site.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In its report, the nuclear agency highlighted the "extremely stressful conditions" facing the 907 Ukrainian staff working there under Russian military control.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, the IAEA is careful not to apportion blame to either side. Source BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>