ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukraine on Thursday accused Russia of attacking a city housing Europe's largest nuclear plant ahead of a visit by United Nations inspectors.

Since dawn, Moscow's troops "shelled Energodar with mortars and used automatic weapons and rockets," Mayor Dmytro Orlov said on Telegram, publishing photos of damaged buildings in the Russian-occupied territory with smoke spiralling above them.

"We demand that Russia stops its provocations and gives the IAEA access to this Ukrainian nuclear installation," Orlov said, referring to the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

A 14-member team from the International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to arrive at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Thursday.