Russia and Ukraine exchange new accusations regarding renewed threats to the largest nuclear power plant in Europe involved in the war, with Moscow claiming that Ukraine was behind drone attacks on the facility witnessed by United Nations inspectors, accusing Kyiv of Russian disinformation tactics.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described today, Monday, the drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, occupied by Russia, as a "very serious provocation."

Peskov said during his daily telephone conference with journalists: "This is a very serious practice and has very bad and negative consequences in the future."

The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on Sunday drone raids on one of the plant's six reactors, injuring one person, but did not attribute responsibility to either side.

The Associated Press was unable to verify claims by either side in the heavy fighting area where independent journalists are not allowed to enter.

An official from Ukraine's Energoatom nuclear power company accused Russia of responsibility for the attacks, saying they were a "provocation" designed to harm Ukraine.

The official spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak officially.

The plant has repeatedly come under fire since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and took control of the facility shortly after. The International Atomic Energy Agency, a United Nations body, has repeatedly expressed concern about the plant amid fears of a potential nuclear disaster.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said the strikes did not affect the nuclear facility occupied and operated by Kremlin forces in southern Ukraine shortly after the war began over two years ago, and the plant's six reactors have been shut down for months, with International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors stationed on site.

Propaganda and misinformation have been used as weapons by both sides during the conflict, and both sides have accused each other on other occasions of planning to launch attacks on the plant.

In last July, Ukraine and Russia accused each other of planning to attack the Zaporizhzhia plant, although neither side provided evidence supporting its claims.

Even with its reactors shut down, the plant still requires power and qualified staff to operate essential cooling systems and other safety features.

It added that the International Atomic Energy Agency team did not observe structural damage to the "systems, structures, and components" important to the plant's nuclear safety, although they reported superficial burns on the top of the reactor dome.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the damage "did not compromise nuclear safety, but this is a serious incident involving the potential undermining of the reactor containment system's integrity."

International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Mariano Grossi said the main reactor containment structures suffered at least three direct hits, and "this cannot happen."

Zaporizhzhia is one of four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022.

The Washington-based research center, the Institute for the Study of War, said Russian authorities seek "to use Russian physical control over the (plant) to force international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, to meet with Russian occupation officials to legitimize the Russian occupation of the (plant), and thus Russia's occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory."