Landmine exploded near occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP - IAEA

Experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) present at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) reported that a landmine had exploded near the site.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said this in a statement posted on the agency’s website, Ukrinform reports.

“International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts present at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) were again forced to shelter this week after missile attack warnings, with the sound of continued shelling in the distance as military activity continues in the region. In addition, one landmine exploded near the site,” the report says.

Grossi stressed that the increased military presence and activity in the region again underlines the importance and urgency of agreeing on the protection of the plant.

According to IAEA experts, the ZNPP continues to rely on the only remaining functioning 750 kilovolt (kV) power line for off-site power. The back-up 330 kV power line that was damaged on March 1 remains disconnected.

As reported by Ukrinform, earlier President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address following a conversation with IAEA Director Rafael Grossi that Russia's presence on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP poses the threat of a nuclear disaster.