The Ukrainian state-run nuclear company says the Russians have declared they will take over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's Energoatom says members of Russia's state nuclear energy agency Rosatom are at the facility.

It said on Saturday that the Russians declared they would take over the facility.

The Zaporizhzhia facility which is one of the largest nuclear power plants in Europe is located in southeastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian regulator announced earlier this month that it had been seized by Russian troops.

The International Atomic Energy Agency released a statement by Director General Rafael Grossi on Saturday.

It said Ukraine informed the IAEA that Russia was planning to take full and permanent control of the nuclear plant.

Ukraine's Energoatom told the agency that around 400 Russian soldiers were "present full time on site" and confirmed that the plant remains under the control of the Russian military forces' commander.

The IAEA said the head of Rosatom confirmed that a limited number of the firm's experts were at the plant, but he denied that Rosatom had taken operational control nor that it intended for it to be under Rosatom's "management system."

Rosatom said in a statement on Saturday that the plant is operated by Ukrainian personnel and that Russian experts are providing consultative assistance.

It also said that Russian specialists are providing consultations for the restoration of the power supply to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. It has been under control of Russian forces since late February.