Last week, representatives of the IAEA, led by the director general of the agency, Raphael Grossi, visited the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. IAEA representatives assessed the situation with nuclear safety and security at the station, and today, September 6, published textual and video report about the visit of the organization's mission to the ZNPP.
The report states the urgent need for measures to prevent a nuclear accident that could be caused by military means.
"All parties need to agree on the creation of a protective zone around the ZNPP to avoid damage to the plant," the report says.
The IAEA also emphasizes the need to stop shelling the plant's structures, which is extremely important for maintaining the physical integrity of the NPP, the violation of which could lead to a "nuclear disaster."
The IAEA report confirmed that Russia has deployed military personnel and equipment at various locations at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, including several military trucks and equipment on the first floor of the turbine halls in power units 1 and 2. The mission also noted the presence of representatives of Russia's Rosatom at the plant, who "give advice on nuclear safety, protection and actions to the management of ZAES".
The IAEA emphasizes that the presence of Rosatom's senior technical personnel may lead to negative interference in the normal operation of the station. In general, the report notes that the presence of Russians at the ZNPP has a negative effect on the Ukrainian staff of the stations, who are in "stressful conditions."
The IAEA calls for the removal of "all vehicles that can interfere with the operation of safety systems and equipment" from the territory of ZANP, as well as to create appropriate working conditions for personnel.
"The situation in Ukraine is unprecedented. The first armed conflict continues on the territory of a large nuclear installation," the report said.
The day before, it became known that four IAEA experts left the ZNPP as planned, two others remain to maintain a permanent IAEA presence on site, allowing the Agency to monitor the situation and provide independent assessments.
IAEA Director General Raphael Grossi should also inform the UN Security Council about the results of the visit and the general situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
