Speaking at the meeting, Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA, quoted by the Associated Press, said the situation at the plant remains tense due to the strong military presence around it and that a blackout has recently hit the plant. facility, something that has happened since it was dominated by the Russian armed forces last year.
The head of the atomic agency met with Volodymyr Zelensky in the town of Zaporijia, about 50 kilometers northeast of the nuclear power plant of the same name, and announced plans to visit the plant this week, for the second time since Russia’s invasion in 13 months.
The agency, based in Vienna, has had permanent staff at the nuclear power plant since September.
The six reactors at the Zaporijia plant in southeastern Ukraine are being shut down, receiving the electricity needed to prevent a meltdown.
Earlier this month, power to the factory was cut for half a day, forcing workers to activate emergency generators, with Rafael Mariano Grossi expressing concern about this development.
The IAEA announced in January the deployment of teams of experts to Ukraine’s four nuclear power plants to reduce the risk of accidents, including the now-closed Chernobyl nuclear power plant, whose deadly nuclear accident in 1986 affected much of Europe.
Rafael Mariano Grossi stressed that his seventh trip to Ukraine shows his commitment and support for Ukraine “for as long as necessary”.
Other IAEA officials, the head of the presidential cabinet, Andriy Yermak, and the head of nuclear operator Energoatom, Petro Kotin, also attended the meeting.
Source: DN
