The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is to visit Ukraine next week to establish a permanent presence of security experts at all of the country’s nuclear power plants.
“Director General Raffaele Mariano Croci will establish in Ukraine next week the continued presence of nuclear safety and security experts at all of the country’s nuclear facilities, significantly accelerating efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help prevent nuclear accidents during the current military conflict,” the UN’s nuclear watchdog said. The report says.
While under Russian control Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant IAEA team members are already on site, and experts will also be stationed at the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant in western Ukraine “in the coming days.” The IAEA said Grosi would travel to the southern Ukraine and Rivne nuclear power plants — as well as the Chernobyl site — to set up the missions of two IAEA members at each site.
Grosi will meet with senior Ukrainian government officials in Kiev Called again and again Nuclear safety and security protection zone around Zaporizhzhia. Kiev has accused Russia of using the plant as cover to carry out attacks, knowing it could not fire without hitting one of the plant’s six reactors in Ukraine. Moscow, meanwhile, said Ukrainian troops had targeted the base.
“I am committed to making the much-needed buffer zone a reality as soon as possible. My consultations with Ukraine and Russia are progressing, although not rapidly. I am confident that the zone can be agreed upon and implemented soon,” Croci said.
According to the report, the Zaporizhzhia plant’s last remaining 330 kilovolt backup power line has been reconnected to the plant after it was cut last week.
Croci also “reiterated his serious concerns about the pressure faced by ZNPP employees, the potential consequences for nuclear safety and security,” the statement said.
“The reduced ZNPP staff levels due to the ongoing military conflict coupled with psychological stress and the absence of family members who have left the area have created an unprecedented situation for any NPP staff to endure,” he said.
