With the constant presence of its experts in Chernobyl, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wants to prevent further Russian attacks on the Ukrainian accident reactor. That’s what IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Wednesday at the facility near the Belarusian border, as his agency’s observer mission began work.
“We hope there will be no further occupation or attack on the power plant,” said Grossi. Shortly after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February, Russian troops occupied the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant for five weeks.
The loss of power to cool the nuclear waste at the facility has raised international concern over another radiation accident. In 1986 there was a devastating nuclear accident in Chernobyl.
IAEA presence to prevent Russian attacks
Grossi traveled to Ukraine earlier this week to permanently deploy small IAEA teams to Chernobyl and three operating nuclear power plants in Ukraine. The presence of international observers should not only reduce the risk of Russian attacks, but the experts should also continuously report on the safety of the factories and provide technical assistance.
Last year, the IAEA stationed a small team at the fourth Ukrainian nuclear power plant in southern Zaporizhia. The factory is under Russian occupation, but is run by Ukrainian employees. Grossi’s proposal for a non-aggression zone around the nuclear power plant has not yet been implemented.
Source: Krone
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