The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on the morning of Monday, August 29 that he is on his way to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which has been the target of strikes in recent weeks.
“The day has come, the IAEA mission to Zaporozhye is now on its way. We must protect Ukraine’s security and Europe’s largest power plant“Rafael Grossi wrote on Twitter, detailing that the mission will arrive on the spot.”later this week“. In the photo attached to his message, the IAEA chief posed with a team of ten people wearing hats and vests bearing the logo of the UN body.
G7 countries,deeply concerned“Due to the risks of a nuclear accident, it also asked for a guarantee of access on Monday.”freelyby IAEA staff at this plant. “We emphasize that any attempt by Russia to disconnect the nuclear power plant from the Ukrainian power grid will be unacceptable.The statement by the G7 Group of Directors further warned against non-proliferation, stressing that a nuclear power plant should not “not to be used for military operations or maintenance of military equipment“.
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmitry Kouleba said during his visit to Stockholm.this mission will be the most difficult in the history of the IAEA, due to the hostilities carried out by Russia on the ground, but also because of the obvious way in which Russia is trying to legitimize its presence.“.
“A real threat of nuclear disaster»
Rafael Grossi had been asking for several months to be able to go to the scene, warning:a real threat of nuclear disaster“. The Zaporizhia plant, home to six of Ukraine’s fifteen reactors, was captured by Russian troops in early March, shortly after the invasion began on February 24, and is located near the southern front line.
Kiev and Moscow accuse each other of shelling the complex near the city of Energodar on the Dnieper River, thereby endangering the area. Ukrainian operator Energoatom warned on Saturday of the risk of radioactive leaks and fires after the new strikes. In recent weeks, Zaporizhia has crystallized the concerns of Western countries. The UN has called for an end to all hostilities in the surrounding area.
At first, Ukraine feared that such a visit would legitimize the Russian occupation of the place in the eyes of the international community, before finally supporting the idea of an IAEA mission. until now”dangerousPresident Vladimir Zelensky on Friday urged the UN nuclear police to send a team as soon as possible.
The Kremlin is callingpressure» About Ukraine
The Kremlin, in turn, called on the international community “pressureon Ukrainian forces to reduce tensions around the nuclear plant. “All countries are obliged to put pressure on the Ukrainian side to stop endangering the European continent by bombing the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and surrounding areas.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He further described as “necessary» The inspection mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Vladimir Zelensky, in turn, assessed.It is not normal that there are still no sanctions against Rosatom for this radiation blackmail at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.“. The President of Ukraine made a speech during a video intervention at the energy conference in Stavanger, Norway.
Between Thursday and Friday, the plant and its six reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, were “completely disconnected” from the national grid due to damage to power lines, according to Kiev, before being reconnected and restarted. “Vladimir Putin accepted the mission.”by Ukraineand not by Russia, which he previously demanded, the French presidency announced in mid-August after a telephone interview between Emmanuel Macron and the Russian president.
Source: Le Figaro
