The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday called for urgent protection of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) after it lost connection to an external power supply. 

ZNPP's connection to the 750 kilovolt (kV) power line was cut at around 1 a.m. local time today, Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi said, citing official information from Ukraine as well as reports from the team of IAEA experts present at the site of Europe's largest nuclear power plant. 

"The resumption of shelling, hitting the plant's sole source of external power, is tremendously irresponsible. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant must be protected," director Grossi said. 

"I will soon travel to the Russian Federation and then return to Ukraine to agree on a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the plant. This is an absolute and urgent imperative," he said in a statement. 

IAEA said 16 of the plant's diesel generators started operating automatically, providing its six reactors with power. After the situation stabilized, 10 of the generators were switched off, leaving six to provide the reactors with necessary electricity.

Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom has blamed Russia for the lose of connection.

Russia later accused Ukraine of continuing provocations by firing 15 rockets to Energodar where the plant is located and its adjacent territory.