Military operations at nuclear power facilities in Ukraine have caused unprecedented danger of a nuclear accident, risking the lives of people living in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries, including Russia, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

In a strongly worded assessment of the situation in Ukraine, Rafael Grossi said the situation was “precarious” and the agency’s Incident and Emergency Centre “remains in 24/7 response mode”.

He referred to last week’s incident when a military projectile hit a building at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power station, causing a fire but no release of radiation, as “a close call”, adding “such a situation must not, under any circumstances, be repeated”.