The head of the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency Grossi has called for a protected zone around Ukraine's Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian forces.

(Reuters file photo)

(Central News Agency) The head of the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency Grossi has called for the establishment of a protection zone around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine to prevent repeated power outages at the plant, saying that the issue has been "taken lightly , shocked him."

"Every time we try our luck, if we keep doing this, one day the luck will run out," Rafael Grossi told the IAEA's 35-nation council.

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The last external power line at Europe's largest Zaporozhye nuclear power plant was cut off this morning amid overnight missile attacks across Ukraine.

The water circulation system that cools the reactor and fuel pool requires external power to turn the pumps.

Grossi has been in talks with both Ukraine and Russia for months to create a protected zone around the nuclear plant, but talks appear to have stalled.

"We have to work to keep this plant safe, we have to work on it now, we have to act. I remind you that this is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe," Grossi said.

He pointed out that since the Russian army occupied the power plant a year ago, this is the sixth power outage and the first power outage since November last year.

"This can't go on anymore, and I'm shocked that the indifference from all sides is shocking. What have we done to avoid a nuclear catastrophe?" he said.

He vowed to keep working on it.

Energoatom, the Ukrainian state nuclear power company that operates the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, said: "Due to the missile attack, the last line of the Ukrainian power supply system connected to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant was cut off."

The Ukrainian State Nuclear Power Company also said that emergency diesel generators can provide power for the plant for 10 days, and "the countdown has begun. If the external power supply cannot be restored in time this time, a radiation leak disaster affecting the whole world may occur."