Fears are growing over nuclear safety at the Chernobyl nuclear plant as staff remain hostage, the head of an international watchdog said.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there is no confirmation that power has been restored - and said authorities have to "move fast" to help the situation.
He told reporters: "This in safeguard terms isn't a good situation, we're losing information."
The IAEA chief said that communication with Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia had degraded and it was a cause for concern.
He also said they don't have the investigative capacity to understand why communications were lost with safeguards equipment at both sites.
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Mr Grossi added that the IAEA is not receiving key safeguarding information, but would not be drawn on whether this was due to Russian forces taking over the plant.
He continued: "It's a very dire situation and we need to move fast.
"I'm aware of the responsibility we have and the expectations there are."
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The U.N. nuclear watchdog will present ideas to Ukraine and Russia in the coming hours on how to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine and a meeting is likely "very soon," Mr Grossi said.
"I am quite encouraged on one important thing: Ukraine and the Russian Federation want to work with us and agreed to work with us," Grossi told the news conference after a trip to Turkey, where he met Russia and Ukraine's foreign ministers separately.
He confirmed a meeting will not happen in Chernobyl after the IAEA suggested the location, but both Ukraine and Russia rejected the suggestion.
It comes a day after Russian forces disconnected Chernobyl nuclear power plant from the national grid igniting fear at the site, according to Ukraine.
National nuclear energy company Ukrenergo said the plant was in total blackout with no power supply.
Yesterday, Mr Grossi said: "“From day to day, we are seeing a worsening situation at the Chornobyl NPP, especially for radiation safety, and for the staff managing the facility under extremely difficult and challenging circumstances.
“I repeat my urgent appeal to the forces in effective control of the plant to respect internal radiation protection procedures, to facilitate the safe rotation of staff and to take other important steps to ensure safety.”
