Explosions overnight near Ukraine nuclear plant are ‘playing with fire!’ – UN Nuclear Director |
in one statement issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), director general Rafael Mariano Grossi said that the explosions last night and again this morning underscored the “urgent need for measures to help prevent a nuclear accident there”.
“As I’ve said many times before, you’re playing with fire!”
new artillery
In what appeared to be fresh shelling near and at the site of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, IAEA experts on the ground reported that more than a dozen explosions were heard in a short period of time in the morning local time.
The IAEA team was also able to see some of the explosions from their windows.
“The news from our team yesterday and this morning is extremely disturbing” Mr. Grossi said.
Citing information provided by plant management, the IAEA team said there had been damage to a number of buildings, systems and equipment at the site, but not critical to nuclear safety and security.
“The explosions that occurred at the site of this large nuclear power plant are completely unacceptable,” he added. “Whoever is behind this should stop it now“.
According to reports, the nuclear energy agencies of Russia and Ukraine both blamed the other’s forces for the strikes – raising fears of a serious nuclear accident. To date, there have been no reports of radioactive leaks at the Russian-occupied plant.
non-nuclear area
IAEA experts said there were no reports of casualties and that they were in close contact with site management.
As they continue to assess and relay updates on the situation, the head of the IAEA reiterated the urgent call that both parties to the conflict agree to implement a nuclear safe and secure zone around them. ZNPP as soon as possible.
In recent months, he has engaged in active consultations with Ukraine and Russia on the creation of a zone – but so far no agreement has been reached.
“I will not give up until this area becomes a reality,” Mr. Grossi said. “As the ongoing shelling clearly shows, it is needed more than ever.”
Gambling with life
Although there was no direct impact on critical nuclear safety and security systems at the plant, the senior UN official said, “the shells came dangerously close to them”.
“We are talking about meters, not kilometers. Whoever is shelling the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is taking great risks and risking many lives.”
The IAEA team of experts plans to conduct an assessment of the impact of shelling on the site tomorrow.
