The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wants to prevent further attacks on the Ukrainian accident reactor with the constant presence of its Chernobyl experts. That’s what the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, said today at the facilities near the border with Belarus, when his agency’s observation mission began to work. “We hope that there is no more occupation or attack on the plant,” said Grossi.
Shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, Russian troops occupied the former Chernobyl power plant for five weeks. The failure to supply power to cool the nuclear waste at the facility has raised international concerns about another radiation accident. In 1986, there was a devastating nuclear accident at Chernobyl.
Non-aggression zone proposal
Grossi traveled to Ukraine earlier this week to permanently deploy small IAEA teams to Chernobyl and three operating nuclear power plants in Ukraine. The presence of international observers should not only reduce the risk of Russian attacks, but experts should also constantly report on plant security and provide technical assistance.
The IAEA stationed a small team at Ukraine’s fourth nuclear power plant in southern Zaporizhia last year. The factory is under Russian occupation but is operated by Ukrainian employees. Grossi’s proposal for a non-aggression zone around the nuclear power plant has yet to be implemented.