Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko has urged Russia to withdraw its troops from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine.

During a news conference in Vienna on Friday, the minister said the overall situation at the plant is inching closer to a possible nuclear accident, as the number of problems keeps growing by the day.

He said the issues include frequent halts to the external power supply, which is needed to maintain the cooling system.

The head of Ukraine's nuclear power plants operator Energoatom said on Monday that Ukrainian staff are denied access to the plant and he believes Russia is in control of its operation.

On Wednesday, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi met with President Vladimir Putin in Sochi and asked Putin to cooperate to ensure the safety of the plant.

Meanwhile, Russian strikes on eastern and southern Ukraine continue.

The governor of the southern Kherson region said that air strikes destroyed an apartment building and medical facilities, killing at least two people and injured two others, including a child.

Ukraine's military says that it shot down 12 of 15 Russian drones on Friday through Saturday in eastern parts of the country.