Berlin — Monday, the president of the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that the long-awaited expert expedition to the Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine is “on its way.”
IAEA director general Rafael Grossi has sought access to the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest, for months. Since the beginning of the six-month-old war, the plant has been held by Russian soldiers and operated by Ukrainian workers.
In recent days, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged claims of attacks at or near the plant, heightening concerns that the battle could produce a huge radioactive leak. The facility was momentarily taken offline last week.
“The time has come,” Grossi posted on Twitter, adding that the “Support and Assistance Mission” of the Vienna-based IAEA is already en route.
This week, DG @rafaelmgrossi heads the IAEA Support & Assistance Mission to #Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) to: Assess physical damage; Determine the functionality of safety & security systems; Evaluate staff conditions; and Perform urgent safeguards tasks. https://t.co/miI73Pi9dI
29 August 2022 — IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg)
“We must ensure the safety and security of the largest nuclear site in Ukraine and Europe,” he added. “I am honored to lead this mission to #ZNPP later this week.” Grossi, who could not provide a more accurate timeline or more information, shared a photo of himself among 13 other specialists.
Ukraine claims that Russia is virtually keeping the plant captive by storing weapons there and launching attacks surrounding it, while Russia accuses Ukraine of firing indiscriminately at the facility. The facility in Zaporizhzhia has six reactors.
The IAEA stated that the mission will, among other things, inspect physical damage to the plant, “determine functionality of safety & security systems,” and check employee conditions.