The group from the Atomic Energy Organization was able to travel to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant despite the continued firing nearby. Russia has been occupying the nuclear power plant since the early days of the attack.
Today, Thursday, a group of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was able to visit the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. The goal is also a more permanent presence of the IAEA at the nuclear power plant.
The group had been trying to visit the power plant for six months. Some of the inspectors are scheduled to be at the nuclear power plant until Friday. The inspectors assess the radiation risk at the nuclear power plant.
Russia has been occupying the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant since the early days of the attack. The power plant is operated by its Ukrainian personnel.
In the evening, part of the 14-person inspection group left the nuclear power plant after an inspection that lasted a few hours. The Ukrainian nuclear power company Energoatom has confirmed that five IAEA representatives will remain at the plant until Friday.
In the evening, the director general of the IAEA also led the inspector group Rafael Grossi said that the IAEA would remain in Zaporizhia. Grossi himself left the power plant hours after the visit.
– I just finished a tour of the most important areas of the power plant, which we wanted to see first. Of course, there is still a lot to do and my team will stay here. Most importantly, we are also starting the permanent presence of the IAEA here, Grossi said in a video message posted on Twitter.
Ukraine and Russia accused each other of shooting near the power plant
The journey from the city of Zaporizhia to the nuclear power plant was dangerous. The drive, which was estimated to last two hours, was delayed by several hours after the IAEA got stuck at the checkpoint on the side of the front line controlled by Ukrainian forces.
IAEA spokesperson Fredrik Dahl told For CNN, as negotiated by Grossi (you will switch to another service) personally with the Ukrainian military about continuing the trip. Despite the difficulties, he reportedly remained very determined that the group would reach the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant as planned during the day.
Ukraine accused the Russian army of continuously shelling the town of Enerhodar, located near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. According to Ukraine, Russia’s actions in the region interfered with the access of the IAEA inspection team to the power plant.
Russia, on the other hand, accused dozens of “saboteurs” belonging to the Ukrainian army to have moved near the nuclear power plant.
Before the Russian invasion, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant produced more than a fifth of Ukraine’s electricity. According to the Ukrainian nuclear power company Energoatom, one of the reactors in use at the plant had to be shut down earlier due to Russian fire.