Currently, the largest nuclear power facility in Europe, the Zaporozhye NPP, is under Russian occupation.
The previous day, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, visited the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant occupied by the Russian army. The purpose of his trip was to reduce the risk of a major nuclear accident.
This is Grossi’s second visit to the Zaporozhye NPP after Moscow troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“The station can no longer be defended”
In particular, on March 29, Grossi made a very brief visit to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and rotated the agency’s observers, permanently stationed there.
“The visit of the head of the IAEA to the largest nuclear power plant in our country and throughout Europe, the second since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, lasted several hours. Rafael Grossi returned to the controlled territory of Ukraine with experts of the Agency’s permanent mission, who were at ZNPP before today’s round. Other representatives of the IAEA will continue the situation at the plant,” Energoatom said in a statement.
Director General @rafaelmgrossi cross the frontline to visit the #Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant today to assess its nuclear safety and security. He reiterated the urgent need to protect the plant. pic.twitter.com/aw5Uh5yfn9
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 29, 2023
The IAEA said Grossi crossed the front line to visit the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant to assess its nuclear safety and security. He confirmed the urgent need to protect the station.
After the visit to the ZNPP, the head of the IAEA said that the number of troops in the area of the temporarily occupied station has increased significantly, so now it is impossible to protect it.
According to Grossi, the situation at the nuclear power plant continues to be unstable.
Director General @rafaelmgrossi visited the #Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant today to assess its nuclear safety and security. He leads a new round of ISAMZ, a group of IAEA experts and inspectors that provide support and assistance to the plant. pic.twitter.com/EVeruFCDad
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 29, 2023
“Obviously, military activity is growing throughout the region. Therefore, the station cannot be protected,” Grossi said.
Why is the head of the IAEA visiting?
According to the agency, Grossi’s second visit to Zaporozhye was primarily aimed at “first assessing the seriousness of the nuclear safety and security situation at the facility.”
A team of IAEA experts has been at the nuclear power plant since September 2022, but Grossi noted that the situation is “still fragile.”
Grossi is pushing for a security agreement between Ukraine and Russia to protect the site.
Meeting with Zelensky
Before the visit, Grossi met with Volodymyr Zelensky. The President of Ukraine said that it is impossible to restore safety to the nuclear power plant as long as it remains under Russian control.
“Without the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops and personnel from the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and the adjacent territory, any initiatives to restore nuclear safety will surely fail,” Zelensky Grossi said.
Reliable power supply is essential for basic nuclear safety and plant protection functions. However, during the war, the plant experienced periodic power outages, which alarmed the IAEA and the international community.
In an interview with Dnipro, Grossi said that his attempt to make an agreement to protect the nuclear plant is still alive. He noted that he was adjusting the proposals in search of a breakthrough.
news Correspondent.net on Telegram. Subscribe to our channel Athletistic
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.