VIENNA, March 2. /TASS/. Russia notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in writing that its troops took control of the area around the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant in Ukraine and the radiation levels at the NPP are normal, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday.

"Russia has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that its military forces have taken control of the territory around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)," the IAEA’s press service quoted Grossi as saying.

"In an official letter to the Director General dated 1 March, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna also said personnel at the plant continued their work on providing nuclear safety and monitoring radiation in the normal mode of operation. The radiation levels remain normal," the IAEA director general added.

Ukraine earlier informed the IAEA that all the Ukrainian nuclear power plants remained under the control of the national operator. Ukraine’s national operator reported on March 2 that it was maintaining contact with the country’s nuclear facilities and the nuclear power plants continued operating as usual.

The IAEA director general repeatedly stressed that it was necessary to avoid any military operations that could threaten the safety of the Ukrainian nuclear power plants.