On Wednesday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, visited the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under the control of Russian troops. To get to the station, he was forced to cross the minefield and the front line. This was reported in official IAEA tweets.
“It is very, very important that we all agree on a fundamental principle: that a nuclear power plant must not be attacked under any circumstances and that it must not be used to attack other installations,” said Magnified. – A nuclear accident with radiological consequences will spare no one. I try to make a realistic and workable proposal that all parties can accept.”This is the IAEA chief’s second visit to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant since the start of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine . Grossi said he wanted to speed up negotiations as fighting around the nuclear plant continues to escalate. Grossi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday. The IAEA chief says he will “most likely” visit Russia in the coming days.Ukraine calls on Russia to withdraw its troops from the territory of the station and create a demilitarized zone there. The Russian authorities want to connect the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant to the Russian electricity network. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “actions of a terrorist state”. Rafael Grossi calls for the creation of a “safe zone” around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant and obtaining guarantees from both sides for its protection. Negotiations to conclude such an agreement, according to its own terms, have not advanced in recent months. However, Grossi is not giving up on his efforts.”I think we’re close to such an agreement,” Grossi said the day before in an interview with The Associated Press. – Of course, of course, political will is needed, political decisions are needed. I want to emphasize that in this case the parties will agree only to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant. They can stay at odds with each other. But they will agree with the nuclear power plant. They will agree to ensure nuclear reliability and safety. This detail is very important and must be taken into account.Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, supplied half of Ukraine with electricity and also exported energy to neighboring European countries. Over the past year, its six reactors have been phased out for safety reasons. But this does not mean that there is no danger of a serious accident.Over the past 13 months, the station has been put into emergency service six times, due to a power outage due to damage to the external power grid as a result of hostilities. Grossi calls this situation “playing roulette”.”The agreement I’m working on aims to ensure nuclear security,” Grossi said. “It is not intended to give a military advantage to any side, nor to somehow legitimize the current situation.”
