The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is calling for expanded access to Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. It was necessary to confirm the “absence of mines or explosives” in the area, said the head of the IAEA Rafael Grossi on Wednesday. Russia and Ukraine have previously accused each other of plans to attack Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant.
Grossi demanded that, given the growing “military tension and military activities” around the plant, experts from his organization be given the opportunity to “verify the facts on the spot. An “independent and objective assessment” of the situation at the nuclear plant would lead to “clarification of the current situation” and is therefore of “crucial importance” in view of “unconfirmed claims and counter-claims”, emphasized the IAEA chief.
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Inspectors cannot access the roofs of reactors 3 and 4
When examining various areas of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in recent weeks, IAEA officials found “no visible evidence of mines or explosives”, explained Grossi. However, the inspectors did not have access to the roofs of reactors 3 and 4, parts of the turbine rooms and the cooling system.
“Explosive objects” on roofs?
The Ukrainian military accused the Russian occupants of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant on Tuesday of placing “explosive-like objects” on the roofs of reactors 3 and 4. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of “dangerous provocations”.
➤ Read more here: Moscow and Kiev accuse each other of planning attacks on nuclear power plants
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and has been under Russian control since March 4, 2022. Since then, it has been shot several times and disconnected from the power grid. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the attacks.