BEIJING, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is considering setting up a permanent observation mission at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, an idea that Russia welcomes.

Several media reported that the expert group of this agency had left Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, on August 31 to inspect the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

  IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told media reporters on August 31 that the IAEA hopes to set up a permanent observation mission at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

"It's one of the most important things and I want to do it and will make it happen.

  Mikhail Ulyanov, the permanent representative of Russia to the Vienna International Organization in Austria, said on August 31 that Russia welcomes the idea of ​​the IAEA setting up a permanent observer mission.

  Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia hopes that a team of IAEA experts will visit the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant to "help prevent Ukraine's attempt to provoke a nuclear disaster and stop nuclear blackmail."

  The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, located in the city of Enier Godar, is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.

The nuclear power plant and surrounding areas have been under fire recently, with Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of the attack.

  The IAEA team of experts departed from Vienna on August 29 and arrived in Kyiv on August 30, where they met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

  During their meeting with Grossi, Zelensky said that the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant currently has risks such as accidents, nuclear reactor failures and network disconnection, and hopes that the visiting IAEA expert team can help find a solution to the problem.

The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant can only be relieved of existing risks if it is "demilitarized".

  Reuters reported on August 31, citing witnesses, that the convoy of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team had left Kyiv that morning.

  The TASS news agency reported on the same day, citing officials from the city of Enel Godar, that the expert team will visit the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant for one to two days, and six to eight experts may stay there later.

  A UN official with knowledge of the situation told a TASS reporter on August 30 that the IAEA expert team, led by Grossi, included experts from 10 countries. To ensure neutrality and impartiality, there were no experts from Russia and Ukraine.

The team of experts will examine the safety of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and will not deal with political or military issues.

(Bao Xuelin)