The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday called for fighting to be stopped in a safe zone around Europe’s biggest nuclear plant, saying its experts had found major damage at the plant on the island. frontline of the war in Ukraine.
A long-awaited report did not assign blame for the damage to the Zaporozhzhia nuclear plant, but said that unless the shooting stopped, there was a risk of disaster.
The plant, taken by Russia shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, is controlled by Russian forces but managed by Ukrainian technicians. She stands on the front lines on a Russian bank of a huge reservoir with Ukrainian positions across the water.
“While the ongoing bombing has not yet triggered a nuclear emergency, it continues to pose an ongoing threat to nuclear safety and security with potential impact on critical safety functions that could lead to radiological consequences of great safety significance,” the IAEA wrote.
“The IAEA recommends that bombings at and near the site be stopped immediately to prevent further damage to the plant and associated facilities, for the safety of operational personnel and to maintain physical integrity to support safe operation. This requires agreement by all relevant parties for the establishment of a nuclear safety and security zone.”
Inspectors said they found Russian troops and equipment at the plant, including military vehicles parked in turbine rooms. Moscow denies accusations that it used the plant as a shield for its forces, but says it has troops guarding it.
“Ukrainian personnel operating the plant under Russian military occupation are under constant stress and pressure, especially with the limited personnel available,” the IAEA report said. “This is not sustainable and could lead to an increase in human error with implications for nuclear safety.”
IAEA inspectors led by the agency’s head, Rafael Grossi, faced shelling to cross the front lines and reach Zaporozhzhia last week. Two specialists remained to maintain a long-term presence at the site.
Earlier on Tuesday, there were explosions and power cut in the town around the plant, Enerhodar, according to Dmytro Orlov, the Ukrainian mayor who operates outside Russian-controlled territory. Moscow repeated its accusations that Ukrainian forces were bombing the plant.
Kiev says it is Russia that is staging such incidents, to undermine international support for Ukraine and as a possible pretext to cut the plant from the Ukrainian power grid and steal its output. Russia has so far rejected international calls to withdraw its forces and demilitarize the area.
The IAEA report listed areas of the plant that were damaged, including a building that housed nuclear fuel, a facility to store radioactive waste and a site that housed an alarm system. It said the power station had been cut off several times from external power supplies critical to safe operation and called for an end to all military activities that could disrupt power.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned on Monday of a near “radiation catastrophe” at the plant and said the Russian bombing showed Moscow “doesn’t care what the IAEA says”.
Russia’s diplomatic mission in Vienna, where the IAEA is based, said Ukrainian projectiles had landed near the plant’s fuel storage unit, solid radioactive waste storage and near one of the power units. He published images of projectile impacts to support his claim. Reuters was unable to verify the allegations by either side.
Source: CNN Brasil
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