The visit is highly anticipated. This Thursday, a mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is heading to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, in southeastern Ukraine, where it wants a “permanent” presence to avoid a possible disaster.
bombings
This team of 14 people arrived this Wednesday in the city of the same name, about 50 kilometers in a straight line from this complex occupied since the beginning of March by the Russians and the object of serious concern on the part of the international community. The mission left its hotel and went to the plant early in the morning for a visit that should last several days.
“The Ukrainians told us that military activity at the plant site has resumed, especially this morning. They told us about the risks, but we will not stop, we will visit the plant. The risks are significant, but we consider that we have the minimum of security required to go to the place, although the risk is very high”, underlined, minutes before the team left, Rafael Grossi, director general of the IAEA.
At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities accuse Russia of bombing this Thursday Energodar, the city where the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is located. Since dawn, the Russians “fire at Energodar with mortars, automatic weapons and bombard them with rockets,” accused the mayor of this city in exile Dmytro Orlov on Telegram, posting photos of damaged buildings and columns of black smoke.
Verifications and permanent presence?
Questioned this Thursday morning on our antenna, Emmanuelle Galichet, professor-researcher in nuclear physics at the CNAM (National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts), explains that the IAEA’s missions will be multiple during these visits.
“First they will want to look at the facilities and if there is a risk of radioactivity, the reactor cores, the waste deposits,” he says, recalling that “until today no part where there is radioactivity has been touched.”
As for a “permanent” presence of the IAEA, says the latter, “it would be very good news.”
Even with BFMTV, plant employees believe they don’t expect much from the IAEA visit. “We wait [l’arrivée de la mission] looking forward and we pray. But I’m afraid nothing will change. I know what the Russians are capable of”, she says, assuring that she feels like a “human shield”.
The plant, the largest in Europe, has been occupied by the Russian army since the beginning of March, after the invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24. Kyiv accused Moscow of having deployed hundreds of soldiers there, positioned artillery pieces and stockpiled ammunition.
Source: BFM TV
