IAEA experts assess there is no immediate threat to nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia NPP

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has assessed that there is no immediate threat to nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) at the moment, but it is necessary for an expert mission to go to the plant as soon as possible.

The relevant statement was released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its website, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Based on the information provided by Ukraine, IAEA experts assessed that there was no immediate threat to nuclear safety as a result of Saturday’s incident, Director General [Mariano] Grossi said,” the report states.

However, according to the IAEA, the shelling on Friday and Saturday at Zaporizhzhia NPP “breached virtually all the seven indispensable nuclear safety and security pillars that the Director General outlined at the beginning of the conflict, including those related to a nuclear power plant’s physical integrity, functioning safety and security systems, staff and external power supplies”.

IAEA Director General Mariano Grossi reiterated his grave concern about the situation at Zaporizhzhia NPP and that “any military action jeopardizing nuclear safety and security must stop”.

Grossi again stressed the need for an IAEA expert mission to go to the plant as soon as possible to help stabilize the nuclear safety and security situation.

The IAEA noted they had not been able to visit the Russian-occupied facility in southern Ukraine since before the conflict began more than five months ago.

A reminder that Russian troops seized Zaporizhzhia NPP on the night of March 4, 2022. A total of 500 Russian soldiers have been staying at the plant since then. In recent days, Russian troops have been actively opening fire on Zaporizhzhia NPP. In particular, Russian missiles hit close to the spent fuel dry storage casks.

On August 6, 2022, the Ukrainian intelligence confirmed the Russian military had mined the power units of Zaporizhzhia NPP.

mk