International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) observers at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine were unable to carry out scheduled activities on Wednesday. The agency said this was due to extensive military activity. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a report published on the agency’s website.
Rafael Grossi did not blame anyone for the disruption to operations. However, Grossi said his company’s employees should not have been put in such a situation.
Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the cancellation of the IAEA surveillance program.
In a statement published on the IAEA’s website, Grossi wrote, “Our personnel are doing important work in extremely challenging circumstances to prevent nuclear accidents during military conflicts.” I am deeply saddened by the cancellation of the well-planned and negotiated observation of our employees that was scheduled to take place today. ’
“It is absolutely unacceptable that the safety of our staff is endangered in this way,” Grossi said. ’
Grossi said he would discuss with the two sides to ensure observers can continue their work and maintain nuclear security.
Russia accused Ukraine of using “provocative” actions to disrupt the movement of IAEA personnel.
Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-appointed governor of the region, accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on the town of Enerhodar, near the nuclear plant. Many employees of the nuclear plant live in the city. Balitsky said the debris from the drone fell within 300 meters of a reactor at the nuclear plant.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorai Taikhai said Russia had deliberately disrupted IAEA personnel. He alleged that Russia had used the same tactic before.
Taikhai said Russia had created hostile conditions, including firing blank shots an hour before the crews began to move, despite warnings to ensure safe movement.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is the largest nuclear plant in Europe. It has six reactors. It was seized by Russia shortly after the start of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the two sides have accused each other of attacks around the nuclear plant and creating a risk of a nuclear accident.
IAEA observers have been deployed in Ukraine since September 2022. They have a presence in all of Ukraine’s nuclear plants.