"The physical integrity of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant" in Zaporizhzhia, occupied by Russian troops, "has been repeatedly violated".
This was stated by the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Aiea) Rafael Grossi, after inspecting the plant.
"It's something that can't keep happening," he added.
Today the
International Atomic Energy Agency (Aiea)
sent a
delegation
, led by the director of the agency in person
Rafael Mariano Grossi
, to verify the
safety
at the
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
, now in the hands of the Russians and at the center of troubling events in the last few days.
In fact, the power plant suffered disconnections from the electricity grid that could cause it to overheat and the attack of kamikaze drones and artillery shells on various buildings of the plant.
The mission did not have an easy time and already this morning he was not sure that the men of the IAEA would be able to
reach the nuclear power plant
as they had planned.
Ukrainian intelligence had in fact confirmed that the city of
Enerhodar
and the
area around the plant
had been the subject of
military attacks
by Russian forces before the visit: in a note from
Apco Worldwide
it said that "
a group of helicopters Russian attackers Ka-52 was seen flying over the city and hitting residential complexes in the area, while the mortar rounds activated the emergency protection of the fifth reactor of the plant
”.
Oleksandr Starukh
, head of the state administration of Zaporizhzhia, commented: "
Russian forces carried out military attacks on the previously agreed route for the Aiea mission, thus hindering the movement of the United Nations in the area
”.
In a perfect and symmetrical game of the parts,
Russian diplomacy
replied that the Ukrainian forces would have had the intention of taking over the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia on the day of the mission's arrival with a group of sappers: the
Russian Defense Ministry
said. , quoted by Interfax.
"
If they had succeeded -
adds the ministry -
the members of the agency's delegation would have become 'human shields' of the Ukrainians themselves"
.
At that point, the
director of
the Atomic Energy Agency Grossi declared: "
the safety of the plant is my responsibility
" and confirmed his willingness to continue the mission, saying he was "
confident of taking the risk
".
the Minister of Energy of Kiev,
Herman Halushchenko
, accompanied the men of the delegation to the
Novooleksandrivka checkpoint
where they were taken over by the pro-Russians.
At
about 1
pm the mission reached the plant and managed to enter the plant.
The visit did not last long.
After about two hours
a part of the delegation's UN vehicles managed from the central.
On one of them was the director Grossi who declared: "
In these few hours we have been able to gather a lot of information, the fundamental things I wanted to see I have seen
".
However, it seems that
not all the IAEA technicians will leave the plant
. Some members of the mission, in a number not yet specified between 5 and 12,
will remain in Zaporizhzhia
to monitor the safety of the plant.