On Wednesday, Ukraine called on the international community to take “immediate measures” in the face of the dangers threatening the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, which is controlled by Russian forces, and which Kiev and Moscow accuse each other of preparing a “provocative” act in it. At least three reactors and explosives planted at the plant… It is time for the world to take immediate action.”
For its part, the International Atomic Energy Agency demanded, on Wednesday, access to all buildings at the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, which is occupied by Russian forces in southern Ukraine, with the aim of “confirming the absence of mines or explosives at the site.”
“As tensions and military activity escalate in the region, our experts must be able to verify facts on the ground” in an “independent and objective” way, the agency’s director general, Rafael Grossi, said in a statement.
He stressed the need to “clarify the current situation” at a time when the two sides are exchanging accusations of planning a “provocation” or “attack”.
In recent weeks, IAEA staff at the site have searched various locations “without noticing any traces of mines or explosives so far”. .
The agency indicated that the military presence “doesn’t seem to have changed,” noting that it had not noticed any recent bombing nearby.
On Tuesday, Kiev accused Moscow of planning “dangerous provocations” at the Zaporizhya railway station.
And the Ukrainian army had warned earlier, Tuesday, of “the possibility of preparing a provocative operation on the territory of the Zaporizhia power plant in the near future.”
He pointed to “external objects resembling explosive devices placed on the outer ceiling of the third and fourth reactors” at the site.
The Ukrainian army pointed out that “its detonation is not supposed to cause damage to the energy units, but it may suggest that it was bombed by the Ukrainian side,” noting that Moscow may “deliberately mislead in this regard.”
In Moscow, an advisor to the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom, Rinat Karsha, accused Kiev of planning to use “high-precision and long-range weapons,” as well as drones.
The Russian army took control of the Zaporizhya power station on March 4, 2022, and it was targeted by fire, and the power grid was cut off several times. According to Kiev, Russia has placed forces and weapons in its vicinity.
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2023-07-05 16:50:47
