No direct threat at Zaporozhye NPP, but it can Change: IAEA
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International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi warns that the situation at Zaporozhye NPP could change due to shelling or other military actions.
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Photo grab from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, a general view of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Station (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi stated on Thursday that there is no immediate threat to nuclear safety at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant at the moment, but that could change.
During the UN Security Council meeting, he said: "Based on the most recent information, IAEA experts have preliminarily assessed that there is no immediate threat to nuclear safety as a result of the shelling or other military actions. However, this could change at any moment."
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia stated on Thursday that Russia is prepared to assist in resolving any logistical obstacles to permit an IAEA expert visit to the Zaporozhye nuclear power station.
Russia also hopes that such a visit may occur by the end of the month, he added.
"For our part, we stand ready to provide all possible assistance to resolving all organizational matters," Nebenzia said during a UN Security Council meeting. "We believe it is justified for the IAEA representatives to go to the Zaporozhye Nuclear power plant as quickly as possible and possibly even before the end of August," He stated.
Last week, the deputy director of the Russian foreign ministry's non-proliferation and arms control department, Igor Vishnevetsky, stated that Russia was willing to assist the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with a potential visit to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, but the United Nations Secretariat refused to approve such a visit.
It is worth noting that Russian forces have had complete control over the Zaporozhye nuclear power station since March, but drone attacks by Ukrainian forces have regularly targeted the facility, leading Russia to request help from the IAEA to address security issues.
Earlier this month, Russia refuted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's claim that Russian forces are using the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) as a military base, according to a statement issued by the Russian Mission to the United Nations.
“We strongly reject such allegations. We repeatedly stated that actions of our Armed Forces in no way undermine Ukraine’s nuclear security or impede the routine operation of the NPP,” it said in response to Blinken’s speech made during the 10th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in the United Nations Headquarters.
