Since the beginning of March, the Russian army has deployed rocket launchers in the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (south), in the territory under Russian control, thanks to which it is striking especially in the Nikopol region, the head of Energoatom said on Friday. Ukrainian operator. “The Russian occupiers have installed missile systems in the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and are attacking the Nikipol region from there.Petro Kotin, President of Energoatom, said on Telegram after an interview with the Ukrainian United News TV channel.
“The situation (at the factory) is extremely tense, the tension is increasing day by day. The occupiers are bringing their equipment there, including the missile systems with which they have already launched strikes across the Dnieper River and into the Nikopol area.80 km southwest of Zaporozhye, he said. According to him, up to 500 Russian soldiers are still in the territory of the factory. they “monitor the site– he assured.
The IAEA is “playing political games”.
“Heavy equipment (tanks, armored vehicles), passenger vehicles and trucks loaded with weapons and explosives remain parked on the factory premises.– assured Petro Kotin, evaluating.insufficientpressuring them to leave and criticizing, in particular, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). IAEA”plays political games, oscillating between Russia and Ukraine“, he emphasized. “The IAEA has many employees from Russia– he added, referring to the number one hundred.and even Rafael Grossi, the First Deputy General Director of the IEA, is from Russia“. “Perhaps this determines their “reserved” positionhe began.
According to the IAEA website, Rafael Mariano Grossi has six assistants, including Russian Mikhail Chudakov, who was appointed in 2015. Rafael Mariano Grossi claimed on Thursday, according to the statement.importance“that the IAEA can go to the plant to implement.”Key safety, security and protection operations of Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant“. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the Agency could not visit.
The Ukrainian authorities are against such a visit, considering that it will legitimize the Russian occupation of the area in the eyes of the international community, Energoatom claimed a few weeks ago.
The site is occupied by Russian forces, but Ukrainian personnel continue to operate it,” the statement said, referring to the current situation.too difficult“because of”constant pressure on staff“. Rafael Mariano Grossi repeated his.growing fearson the conditions in which these employees found themselves andthe effect of such conditions on plant safety and security“.
In 2021, the plant provided 20% of Ukraine’s annual electricity production and 47% of the electricity produced by the Ukrainian nuclear fleet.
Source: Le Figaro
