Ukrainian president has again warned Russia may be planning to “simulate an attack” the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, claiming that Russian troops have placed “objects resembling explosives” on the roofs of buildings at the site, writes The Guardian.

Citing Ukrainian intelligence, Volodymyr Zelensky said the objects had been positioned on the roof of several power units of the power plant that is currently held by Russia.

Earlier on Tuesday, he briefed the French president, Emmanuel Macron, on Russia’s “dangerous provocations” at the plant in south-eastern Ukraine. He said he and Macron had “agreed keep the situation under maximum control together with the IAEA”, the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

Zelensky’s warnings echo comments he made last week at a joint news conference in Kyiv with the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. “There is a serious threat because Russia is technically ready to provoke a local explosion at the station, which could lead to a [radiation] release”, - said Zelenskiy at the time.