The head of the United Nations (UN) nuclear energy regulator warned on Saturday (6) that the situation around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine had become “potentially dangerous” when authorities installed by Moscow began to evacuate people from nearby areas.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), called for measures to ensure the safe operation of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant while evacuations were underway in the nearby town of Enerhodar.
“The general situation in the area near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is becoming more and more unpredictable and potentially dangerous,” said Grossi.
“I am extremely concerned about the nuclear safety and security risks faced by the plant. We must act now to avoid the threat of a serious nuclear accident and its consequences for the population and the environment,” he continued.
Grossi further explained that while the plant’s operational workers remain on site, conditions are “increasingly tense”.
The Russian-installed governor of the Moscow-controlled part of the Zaporizhzhia region said on Friday that he had ordered the evacuation of nearby towns as shelling intensified in the area in recent days.
A widely expected counteroffensive by Ukrainians against Russian forces is seen as likely in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is 80% controlled by Moscow.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Sunday (7) that residents are being evacuated in the direction of Berdiansk and Prymorsk, on the coast of the Sea of Azov.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports.
Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia factory days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. Firefights frequently occurred near the facility, with each side blaming the other.
Grossi last visited Zaporizhzhia in March as part of efforts to speak with the two sides to secure an agreement on safeguards for the safe operation of the plant.
He repeatedly warned of the dangers of military operations around the plant.
The station is located in the part of this region under Russian control, with many of the staff who operate it living in Enerhodar, on the south bank of the Dnipro River.
Source: CNN Brasil
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