We are living on borrowed time, warns Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, after two landmines have gone off near the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya.
The IAEA has repeatedly expressed concern about the safety of what is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Russian forces took control of the power plant, located in southern Ukraine, in March last year.
– We are living on borrowed time when it comes to nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhya power plant, says Grossi in a statement.
– Unless we take action to protect the power plant, sooner or later we will run out of luck, with potentially serious consequences for human health and the environment, he adds.
Two landmines have gone off outside the fence surrounding the power plant, according to the statement. It is unclear what caused the explosions, which took place on April 8 and 12 respectively.
Grossi met senior Russian officials in Kaliningrad last week to discuss a plan for security at the power plant. Earlier, he had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
The head of the IAEA also sounded the alarm on Thursday that the power plant relies on only one power line that is still working, which poses a “significant risk” to safety. A backup line that was damaged on March 1 has still not been repaired, according to the IAEA.
In addition, the staffing situation at the power plant is still “complex and challenging”, partly due to a lack of manpower, according to the UN agency.
