IAEA: So far no mine sighted at the Zaporizhia Power Plant

International observers at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine have so far seen no sign of mines being used by the Russian occupiers. Staff from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), permanently stationed at the nuclear power plant, have yet to gain access to some areas of the plant, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said late on Friday in Vienna. Parts of the turbine rooms and cooling system still need to be inspected, his report said.

Last week, Ukraine’s SBU military intelligence service said Russia had mined the nuclear power plant and was planning a terrorist attack there. Moscow rejects such allegations. “We take all these reports very seriously,” said Grossi. It is “known” by the IAEA that mines used to be placed in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant and at certain points of the plant. Grossi did not explain what information the IAEA has on Friday.

Shortly after the start of the war 16 months ago, Russian troops quickly occupied large parts of southern Ukraine, including important infrastructure objects such as the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. The situation around the nuclear power plant, which is close to the front and has been the target of several attacks, has repeatedly raised concerns about a nuclear catastrophe.