In Finland, the visiting Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, met Vladimir Putin in the spring.
The dangers threatening the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are constant, and the situation could turn worse at any moment, the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA warned last week.
– As long as the war continues, it is impossible to say that the situation is improving at all, says the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi In an interview with in Helsinki.
He reminds us that Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, located on the front line of the war in Ukraine, has been in danger numerous times due to power outages needed for cooling equipment as well as direct attacks.
– IAEA experts are constantly there […]so that our voices would be heard and a possible nuclear accident would be prevented, says Grossi, who has also visited the power plant himself during the war.
Grossi met Putin in March
Russia has had a knife at the throat of Ukraine and Europe ever since it seized the power plant at the beginning of the Great Attack. The situation can become even more dangerous, as Russia is planning to turn on the nuclear power plant it has seized this year.
The matter was reported to Gross by the president himself Vladimir Putin when the men met each other in Sochi in March. The leader of the atomic organization operating in connection with the UN says that the voice connection must be maintained, especially in such a vulnerable situation. He also met Putin in the early stages of the war, and has also discussed the president of Ukraine several times to Volodymyr Zelensky with.
According to Gross, Putin understands the risks associated with the situation at the nuclear power plant. The CEO emphasizes that his role in communication is strictly defined and focuses on the technical side.
– Of course [Putinin] view of the situation is the Russian Federation’s view of the situation and I’m not trying to turn his head. I focus on my own task, i.e. ensuring the safety of the nuclear power plant.
Russia’s intention to start a nuclear power plant made news last month The Wall Street Journal. According to its sources, Russia aims to start one of the six reactors before the end of the year, and thus complete the takeover of the power plant.
According to experts interviewed by the WSJ, starting the reactor in the current situation would be difficult and dangerous.
Grossi does not elaborate on his ongoing discussions with the Russian leadership. However, he confirms that the discussions involve Russia’s intention to start a nuclear power plant. In case of such a case, the IAEA aims to minimize the worst risks.
– [Venäjä ei aio käynnistää ydinvoimalaa] tomorrow, or so we hope. But we have to make sure that if that happens, the situation must not become even more dangerous.
Grossi will visit Finland at the Nordic Nuclear Forum event in the nuclear energy sector. During his visit, he met, among others, the President of the Republic by Alexander Stubb.