The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Monday the presence of mines in the perimeter of the Zaporojia nuclear power plant, in southern Ukraine, which is occupied by Russian troops.
The mines were detected by experts from this organization of the United Nations Organization (UN) during an inspection, carried out on Sunday, in a restricted area between the perimeter barriers of the complex and, in principle, out of the reach of center personnel.
“The IAEA was aware of the laying of mines outside the perimeter of the facilities and also in specific locations inside. Our team presented this specific finding to the center and they told us it was a military decision and in an area controlled by the military,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi of Argentina said in a statement.
“Having these explosives in this place violates IAEA standards and guidelines on nuclear safety and creates additional psychological pressure on plant personnel,” he criticized.
However, “the initial assessment” of the IAEA, Grossi added, is that the eventual detonation of these mines “should not affect the nuclear safety systems of the plant.”
The IAEA team has been conducting regular inspections at the plant without observing heavy military equipment so far, it said in the statement.
The UN experts are still waiting to gain access to the reactor decks, where the Ukrainian government claims to have detected the presence of objects that could be explosive.
The IAEA said that on July 22, its team at the plant heard several shots nearby.
For months, the Agency has been asking that the plant not be used to store weapons or explosives.
Ukraine reported in early July that Russian troops had planted explosives at the plant.
Source: TSF
