– This underlines the very real risk of a nuclear disaster that could threaten public health and the environment both in Ukraine and elsewhere, says head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, in a statement according to Reuters.
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Grossi says he is very concerned about the destruction caused by Friday’s attack. Among other things, one reactor at the power plant is out of service, and there has been serious damage to a station where nitrogen and oxygen are stored, as well as to an auxiliary building, Energoatom reports on Telegram.
Accuse each other
Both Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of being behind Friday’s attack. The nuclear power plant, which is Europe’s largest, has been under Russian occupation since March, but is still mainly operated by Ukrainian workers.
– There is still a risk of leakage of hydrogen and radioactive substances, and the risk of fire is also high, writes Energoatom further.
For several months, the IAEA has wanted to send inspectors to the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya. Ukraine has denied the inspectors access, claiming that a visit would help legitimize Russia’s occupation of the power plant.
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Unstable and unsafe
According to Grossi, the attacks on Friday are just the latest in a long line of increasingly alarming messages from Zaporizhzhya. On Wednesday, Grossi said that the situation at the power plant is unstable and unsafe.
– Every principle of nuclear safety has been violated. What is at stake here is extremely serious, grave and dangerous, Grossi said then.
– The situation is unstable. We cannot allow that to continue, he added.
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