Status: 02.09.2022 21:36
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA, Grossi, and his team visited the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhia. “We saw everything I wanted to see,” he said afterwards. The constant shelling is causing him concern.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi drew a partially positive conclusion after the visit to the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhia. Although damage caused by the shelling of the power plant is obvious and unacceptable, important safety elements such as the power supply to the power plant are working, Grossi said after returning from Ukraine at Vienna Airport.
The cooperation between the Russian occupiers and the Ukrainian personnel also works to some extent on a professional level. His greatest concern remains that the nuclear power plant could be severely damaged by further shelling. He expects a detailed analysis of the safety of the power plant by the experts who remain on site in the course of the next week, said Grossi.
Nikolaus Neumaier, ARD Vienna, at the press conference of IAEA chief Grossi on the occasion of the inspection of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
tagesschau24 9:00 p.m., September 2nd, 2022
IAEA stay as long as necessary
Some members of the IAEA mission had already left the power plant on Thursday evening. Six IAEA experts are still at the nuclear power plant. Four would return, with two staying on site until further notice. He doesn’t have the impression that the Russian occupiers have hidden anything. “We saw everything I wanted to see,” said Grossi. A crucial difference to before is also that he now learns from his own sources what is happening on site.
The IAEA chief emphasized again that he sees his authority’s mission as permanent. “The IAEA is there to stay as long as necessary.” The Ukraine and Russia currently agree to this. He knows things could change. What worries him most at the moment is that the war around the power plant is increasing in intensity, Grossi said.
Kremlin sees inspection as positive
The Kremlin described the inspection as “very positive”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised journalists that “despite the difficulties and problems, the delegation arrived and started its work.” It is still “too early” for an assessment, but the most important thing is that the mission takes place, Peskow said.
Zaporizhia is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Located in southern Ukraine, it has been occupied by Russian forces since March. The nuclear power plant is still operated by Ukrainian technicians. The visit of the IAEA delegation led by Grossi was eagerly awaited after the area had been shelled repeatedly in recent weeks and fears of a nuclear catastrophe were growing. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the attacks.
Experts from the Atomic Energy Agency IAEA continue controls at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
Marius Reichert, WDR, daily news at 8:00 p.m., September 2nd, 2022
More shelling in the region
Fighting broke out again in the region on Friday. Ukraine shelled Russian artillery positions not far from the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant occupied by Moscow troops. “It is confirmed that our troops destroyed three enemy artillery systems in the area of the villages of Cherson and Enerhodar with precise hits,” the Ukrainian General Staff report said on Facebook. An ammunition depot and at least one company of the Russian army were also said to have been destroyed.
According to the information, the Russian occupiers removed all military technology from the site of the nuclear power plant before the IAEA group of experts arrived. This had been moved to the neighboring towns. This cannot be verified independently. Russia has always maintained that it has no heavy weapons stationed at the nuclear power plant.
Shaded in white: advance of the Russian army. Shaded in green: Russian-backed separatist areas. Crimea: annexed by Russia.
Image: ISW/01.09.2022
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu accused Ukraine of shelling the nuclear power plant and risking a nuclear catastrophe in Europe. He accused Ukraine of “nuclear terrorism”. Russia has not placed any heavy weapons on or around the site of the nuclear power plant, Shoigu dismissed statements by Ukraine and the West. “I hope that the IAEA team will be convinced of this,” explained Shoigu.
conflicting parties as a source
Information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict parties cannot be directly checked by an independent body in the current situation.
Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator: “The occupiers are lying”
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian operator of the Enerhoatom power plant has expressed doubts about a neutral assessment of the power plant by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Due to the Russian influence, an independent assessment by the IAEA is difficult, Enerhoatom said. In addition, the IAEA delegation will be denied access to the facility’s crisis center, where Russian soldiers are staying, according to Ukrainian sources. “The occupiers lie, distorting the facts and evidence showing that they are shelling the power plant and showing the consequences of destroying the infrastructure.”
Block 5 back online
Enerhoatom announced that a reactor that had been shut down after being shelled has come back online. Block 5 is being brought back to full capacity. An emergency shutdown had been initiated the day before because of mortar fire.