The situation in Enerhodar, Ukraine, where the personnel of the Russian-held Zaporozhye nuclear power station is present, is becoming extremely dangerous, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Friday, demanding an urgent cessation of firing.

"I therefore urgently call for the immediate cessation of all shelling in the entire area," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement.

"Only this will ensure the safety and security of operating staff and allow the durable restoration of power to Enerhodar and to the power plant."

Shelling in ZNPP area should be stopped

Grossi urged for an urgent cessation of shelling at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) due to a critical situation in the facility's power supply on Friday.

Shelling has caused a complete blackout in #Enerhodar and compromised the safe operation of the nearby #Zaporizhzhya NPP. This must stop & a Nuclear Safety & Security Protection Zone (NSSPZ) agreed immediately. An NPP can never be a pawn of war. https://t.co/jMMf7jk12S pic.twitter.com/7djejJe80G

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 9, 2022

"The shelling around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant must stop and a nuclear safety and security protection zone agreed immediately," Grossi said in an address posted on his social media, adding that the "shelling has caused a complete blackout in Enerhodar and compromised the safe operation of the nearby Zaporozhye NPP."

Blackout near Ukraine nuclear plant 'compromises safe operation': IAEA

Shelling at the town of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in Ukraine has caused a blackout, compromising the safe operation of Europe's largest plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Friday.

Read next: Ukrainian shelling cuts off Zaporozhye NPP power line

"Shelling has caused a complete blackout in Energodar (town) and compromised the safe operation of the nearby Zaporozhye (nuclear power plant)," Grossi said in a tweet.

IAEA calls for security zone

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called on Tuesday for the establishment of a security zone around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) following Ukraine's latest offense. 

The attacks took place today after Kiev's forces opened fire from artillery on the Russian-controlled city of Energodar. 

As a result of the shelling, a power line in the vicinity of the ZNPP was damaged, which led to a temporary power outage as well as instability in the water supply.

Authorities reported in a statement that a total of seven shells had hit the area of a training building on the NPP premises, one of which had caused a leak of fuel oil from a tank at a water delivery line at the ZNPP.