U.N. inspectors assess damage to Ukraine nuclear plant, say its integrity has been "violated"

The IAEA team was delayed several hours by shelling near the site of the plant

The head of the U.N. atomic watchdog said the physical integrity of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine had been violated several times and he was worried by the situation there.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi was speaking after spending several hours at the plant on Thursday, braving gunfire he said had come "uncomfortably close".

He and his team of U.N. experts were returning on Friday across the frontlines to assess physical damage to Europe's biggest nuclear energy plant.

The site was captured by Russian forces soon after they invaded Ukraine in late February and has become a focus of deep concern over the possibility that shelling in the vicinity could cause a nuclear disaster.

Moscow and Kyiv blame each other for the shelling. Kyiv accuses Moscow of using the facility to shield its forces, a charge Moscow denies while rejecting calls to withdraw its troops. The plant is still run by Ukrainian staff.

Mr. Grossi said on his return to Ukrainian-held territory on Thursday: "It is obvious that the plant and the physical integrity of the plant has been violated, several times ... this is something that cannot continue to happen."

He said his experts would stay at the facility and he would continue to worry until the situation had stabilised.