Moscow and Kyiv disputed new allegations of firing near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine, which has been the subject of worldwide worry that conflict in the region could lead to a catastrophe.

Since early March, just after Russia invaded Ukraine, the largest nuclear power station in Europe, Zaporizhzhia, has been under Russian control.

Ukrainian employees still run it; in recent weeks, both sides have traded accusations regarding shelling near the plant.

Russian troops shelled the plant complex's grounds again in the previous 24 hours, according to the state nuclear power corporation of Ukraine, Energoatom.

In a statement on Telegram, Energoatom said that the damage is now being assessed.

Moscow's defense ministry charged the Ukrainian military three times, bombarding the factory complex the previous day.

The roof of Special Building No. 1, which houses 168 assemblies of American WestingHouse nuclear fuel, was struck by four of the 17 rounds that were fired, according to a statement from the Russian defense ministry.

It was reported that 10 more shells exploded nearby a dry storage facility for used nuclear fuel, and three more shells exploded close to a structure storing new nuclear energy.

It also claimed that the nuclear power plant's radiation condition was unaltered.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared on Friday that the situation in Zaporizhzhia remained "extremely perilous."

However, two of the plant's six reactors had been reconnected to the grid after shelling caused the nuclear plant to be disconnected for the first time in its history.

The plant's two active reactors were brought back to the grid on Friday night after being entirely disconnected from it on Thursday, according to a statement from Energoatom.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, wants to visit the facility in the country's south.

Agency head Rafael Grossi said on Thursday that it was "very, very close" to being allowed to send representatives there.

"The (Russians) have escalated pressure on the staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to hush up their testimonies regarding the crimes of the occupiers at the station and to utilize it as a military base," it stated. This was done in preparation for the IAEA's inspection.

The G7 foreign ministers have repeatedly pleaded with Russia to return the plant to Ukraine. 

According to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the factory should be evacuated of military personnel and equipment, who also urged precautions to prevent it from being the target of military actions.