According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is still part of Ukraine. That is the attitude of the UN organization, boss Rafael Grossi explains on Thursday. Grossi was expected on Thursday for talks in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the nuclear power plant to be classified as Russian Federation property.
“The need for a nuclear safety zone around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is more urgent than ever,” Grossi wrote on Twitter on Wednesday evening. Talks are expected with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko and the head of Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator Energoatom, Petro Kotin.
The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Enerhodar has been under control of the Russian army since early March after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia has also officially declared the area its territory and the nuclear power plant as Russian property and has installed a new pipeline for the power plant. Artillery shelling at the power plant site and the surrounding area had raised international concerns about a nuclear disaster in the summer.
The largest nuclear power plant in all of Europe
All six plants have since been shut down and two IAEA employees are monitoring the situation. A trip to the Russian capital Moscow was also announced. There was also speculation about a return visit to the Grossi nuclear power plant. With its six reactors and a net capacity of 5700 megawatts, the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is the largest in Europe.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
