The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (south), the largest in Europe, is “obviously” Ukrainian, despite its formal appropriation by Moscow, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said on Thursday. reaffirming the “very clear”. possibility of a nuclear accident.
“It is obvious to us that it belongs to (Ukrainian operator) Energoatom since it is a Ukrainian facility,” Rafael Grossi said during a press conference in Kyiv, after being received by President Volodymyr Zelensky and before traveling to Moscow.
“We continue to say what needs to be done, which is essentially to avoid a nuclear accident at the plant, which remains a very, very clear possibility,” he argued, also denouncing “the almost unbearable conditions” in which the Ukrainian personnel of plant work.
Formally backed by Russia
Russia formally seized this power plant on Wednesday, which it has occupied militarily since the beginning of March, according to a decree signed on Wednesday by its president, Vladimir Putin.
The largest in Europe, this plant is located in the Zaporizhia region, one of the Ukrainian territories whose annexation Russia claimed last week, and not far from the demarcation line between the territories controlled by Kyiv and those occupied by Moscow.
“We are an international organization guided by international law and, as you know, annexations are not accepted under international law,” continued Rafael Grossi, while adding to take care of “the practical consequences” of annexation.
Source: BFM TV
