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The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said Thursday that he had “seen what he had to see” during the inspection of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, where he assured that the organization would remain.
“We managed, during these few hours, to collect a lot of information. I saw the main thing I needed to see,” Rafael Grossi told Russian journalists accompanying the IAEA expert delegation at this center occupied by forces loyal to Moscow, in southern Ukraine.
The IAEA expert mission assured that it will remain at the Zaporizhia plant, after having inspected it, in a high-risk mission aimed at avoiding a nuclear disaster in the place where Russians and Ukrainians accuse each other of bombing.
“We accomplished something very important today. And the most important thing is that the IAEA will stay here. Let everyone know that the IAEA will remain in Zaporizhia,” Grossi said.
The head of the organization, which personally heads the 14-person inspection mission, had already announced, on Wednesday, the intention to install a “permanent presence” in the place, which is at the center of strong concerns.
“We did an initial evaluation. We saw the dedicated work of the staff and management. Despite very, very difficult circumstances, they continue to work professionally,” added the IAEA Director.
In kyiv, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Robert Mardini, called for a suspension of all military operations around the plant, warning that an attack would be “catastrophic”.
“It’s time to stop playing with fire and take concrete steps to protect this place,” Mardini said.
Russia and Ukraine have been accusing each other for several weeks of endangering the nuclear power plant, which is the largest in Europe.
One of the two operating reactors was shut down by a bombing that the Ukrainians blame on Russian forces, while Moscow accuses kyiv of having sent sabotage teams to the atomic plant.
The power plant is located along the Dnieper River, the left bank of which is controlled in this sector by Russian troops.
Source: Observadora
