IAEA chief says he sees fewer “attacks” around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Rafael Grossi once again visited the site occupied by Russian forces since the start of the invasion.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said he observed fewer “direct attacks” around the Ukrainian Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, controlled by the Russians. “We note that, in compliance with the five basic principles established by the UN Security Council, the physical integrity of the plant has been rather stable”he congratulated himself after his fourth visit to the site, Wednesday February 7. “There have been fewer episodes of direct attacks or bombings around [de la centrale]which is a positive development although we take it with a lot of caution.”

“Until the conflict ends without a nuclear accident w/ radiological consequences, we will not be able to say that our job is complete. But we will continue. Today has been an important part of this effort,” says DG @rafaelmgrossi as his 4th mission to Zaporozhye NPP concludes. pic.twitter.com/kb4ulTvvkR

— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) February 7, 2024

The site, in the hands of Moscow’s troops since March 2022, is at the heart of the war between Ukraine and Russia, along the Dnipro River which acts as a natural front line. The plant has been targeted by fire and cut off from the electricity grid on several occasions, a precarious situation which regularly raises fears of a nuclear accident. kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of wanting to cause a catastrophe there.

Some 4,500 people on site

During this visit, Rafael Grossi said he spoke about the water supply, necessary for cooling the plant. “Issues relating to personnel and the need to ensure sufficient availability of licenses and authorized personnel were also part of the discussions we had”he added.

On February 1, the IAEA announced that the Russians were now denying access to employees of Energoatom, Ukraine’s national operator, who participated in daily maintenance. Currently, 4,500 people work under Russian authority, according to figures provided to IAEA experts permanently present on site. Before the war, the plant had some 11,500 employees.