The Kremlin warned Wednesday that Kyiv could be preparing a provocation at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, a flashpoint of concern in the conflict in Ukraine.

“The situation is quite tense because the threat of sabotage from the Kyiv regime is really high - sabotage that could have catastrophic consequences,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The comments come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Russia was planning “dangerous provocations” at the plant, the largest in Europe.

For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

Russia and Ukraine have regularly accused each other of putting the plant’s safety at risk since the Kremlin launched large-scale hostilities in Ukraine last February.

“The Kyiv regime has repeatedly demonstrated its readiness not to rule anything out. Most recently, we saw this during the explosion of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, also with horrific consequences,” Peskov said.

Kyiv and its allies say Moscow’s forces last month destroyed the Russia-controlled Kakhovka dam, flooding huge swathes of the Kherson region, leaving dozens dead and forcing thousands to flee.

“All measures are being taken to counter such a threat,” Peskov said, referring to the plant.

An advisor to Russia’s Rosatom nuclear agency, Renat Karchaa, accused Kyiv earlier this week of planning an attack on the plant on the night of July 5.

The UN’s nuclear energy agency has deployed a team of observers to the plant and the agency’s head Rafael Grossi said Tuesday there were no plans to redeploy the group.

Read more:

Russia’s Kursk, Belgorod regions come under fire from Ukraine: Governors

Russia sees no basis to renew Black Sea grain deal: Foreign ministry

Ukraine says attacked Russian forces unit in Moscow-controlled Makiivka