The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is alarmed by the tense situation around the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia. The situation is becoming increasingly unpredictable and the risk of danger at the Russian-occupied nuclear power plant is increasing, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Saturday evening. “I am deeply concerned about the very real security risks,” he warned in a status report. “We must act now to prevent an imminent serious nuclear accident.”
The pro-Moscow government in the Zaporizhia region on Friday announced evacuations, including the town of Enerhodar, where most of the nuclear plant’s staff live. According to Grossi, the workers remain on site, but the situation continues to become “increasingly tense, nerve-wracking and challenging” for them and their families. According to the IAEA, permanent stress can lead to errors and accidents in nuclear power plants.
Agreements on nuclear power plants have so far failed
Grossi again called for an agreement between Ukraine and Russia to protect the nuclear power plant from attack. Initially, Moscow was positive about the plan, while Kiev was skeptical because it did not foresee a Russian withdrawal from the power plant, the German news agency learned from European diplomatic circles. Since Kiev recently took a more positive attitude, but at the same time called on the Russians to withdraw, Russia would be less pleasant.
A Ukrainian counteroffensive is expected in the near future. One possibility is a military advance in the Zaporizhia region towards the coast of the Sea of Azov.
Selenskyj wants to bring back imprisoned compatriots
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday evening formulated the goal of freeing all compatriots imprisoned by Russia. “We must and will bring back all our people from Russian captivity,” Zelenskyy said in his evening video address. It is not known how many Ukrainians and how many Russians are being held on the other side for more than 14 months after the outbreak of war.
Earlier on Saturday, a new exchange of prisoners between the two warring parties was announced. According to consistent information, three Russian Air Force pilots and 45 Ukrainian soldiers have been released.
Source: Krone
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