Russia confirmed what the IAEA reported two days ago, namely that it prevented an inspection by UN Atomic Energy Agency personnel of three reactors at the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, occupied by the Russians since March 2022, for “security reasons.” Renat Karchaa, director of Russian nuclear operator Rosatom, which took over the plant, said IAEA inspectors would try to access the “containment covers.” These – he continued -, especially the sealed shells, are not museums, they are not freely accessible areas. When (the containment envelopes of nuclear reactors) are in “sealed” mode, access for personnel is prohibited but permitted for clear reasons and in emergencies, Karchaa added. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement that experts sent to the Ukrainian nuclear power plant had not had access to three of the reactors for two weeks, adding that the U.N. agency continued to seek permission to inspect the reactor cores and spent fuel storage facilities I'll ask for nuclear fuel. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, which has been occupied for almost two years, has stopped supplying electricity to Ukraine since September 2022 and has repeatedly been the target of artillery and drone attacks.
