The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located in Ukraine but under Russian military control, is “unsustainable”.
The statement is contained in the 52-page report released this Tuesday (6th) following a UN agency review of the facility.
The note also highlights that this is the first time a military conflict has developed between the structures of a nuclear power plant of this size.
The Zaporizhzhia facility, the largest in Europe, has been operated by Ukrainian technicians since the military took control of the site in early March, and this is also a concern for the IAEA.
“Ukrainian personnel operating the facility under Russian military occupation are under constant pressure and stress, especially given the limited staff available,” Metin said.
“A nuclear incident can have a serious impact within the country and beyond its borders,” he adds, noting what they always say based on remote data, noting on the spot that several incidents “violate the principles of nuclear security.”
The expert group also said that “rapid measures are urgently needed to prevent the provocation of a nuclear incident due to physical damage caused by military vehicles, in anticipation of the end of the conflict and the restoration of stable conditions”.
Image: European Union, via Copernicus Senti/REUTERS
Therefore, the IAEA calls for “immediate establishment of a nuclear safety condition and a security protection zone” and an “immediate cessation” of military activities at the site of the power plant located in the city of Energodar. “new damage to plants and structures”.
The report also said that experts “observed damage in various areas caused by the incidents” caused by the clashes, and that “some of the damage was near the reactor buildings”.
“Experts also noted that some repair work has been done or is ongoing for some of the damage, and further work will be needed to repair all of the damage.”
The IAEA mission, with 13 experts, including director-general Rafael Grossi, went to Zaporizhzhia after an agreement with Russia and Ukraine – because the plant has not been inspected since February, when the conflict began.
Despite attacks on the roads used by the group, they managed to arrive unharmed on Thursday 1st.
Some of the team left the field on the same day and the other members stayed until Monday (5). There is also the possibility that the IAEA’s presence at the nuclear power plant may become permanent.
Ukraine and Russia are constantly making mutual accusations about who carried out the attacks on the power plant area, so it is impossible to independently verify who is telling the truth.
Kyiv says the Russians have turned the area into a launch pad and weapons storage headquarters. Moscow denies the information and says it occupies the center as a form of security.
The fact is that the structure has been heavily affected by damage to the outbuildings, fuel tank and reactor cooling in recent weeks. While six were established, only two have been operational since February, when the war began in Zaporizhzhia.
Currently, the Russians have closed one of them due to problems caused by military attacks.
source: Noticias
