The IAEA mission reported that, despite the recent Russian shelling of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, key equipment remained intact and no immediate problems with nuclear safety were recorded.
A group of IAEA experts assessed the extent of damage to the Zaporozhye NPP, the organization said in a November 21 statement.
Despite the fact that the IAEA does not see the threat of an accident at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, experts, after examining the Zaporozhye NPP, note significant damage to the plant. Among other things, condensate storage tanks were damaged, resulting in a non-radioactive leak, the statement said.
The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, has already stated that he has “intensified consultations” on the creation of a “protective zone” around the ZNPP after the shelling.
The situation at the captured Zaporozhye nuclear power plant has become the subject of a new conversation between the Presidents of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and France Emmanuel Macron.
He informed about the situation on the battlefield and nuclear power plants in Ukraine. He pointed to the demilitarization of the ZNPP. They also considered cooperation to ensure the energy stability of Ukraine, including protecting the system from air attacks, the president said after the conversation.
During November 19-20, the nuclear facility was subjected to massive shelling. According to the IAEA, the shells exploded near the reactors.
On November 21, Rosatom, trying to control the captured station, reported a “threat of a nuclear catastrophe.” At the same time, the occupiers restricted the access of Agency inspectors to nuclear power plants.
At the suggestion of the Director General of the IAEA to assess the damage at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, Advisor to the Director General of Rosenergoatom Renat Karchava said in a commentary to Russian media:
If they want to check a facility that has nothing to do with nuclear safety, access will be denied.
At the same time, Energoatom notes that Russia is trying to blame Ukraine for the shelling.
Source: Racurs
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