IAEA leaves Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia for occupied nuclear power plant

The mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency left Zaporizhzhia for the nuclear power plant located in the temporarily occupied Enerhodar

Reuters reports, citing the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

He said the mission was aware of "increased military activity in the area" but was sticking to its plan to visit the facility and meet with its personnel.

"There has been an increased military activity in the area. Having come so far, we are not stopping," Grossi said.

Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration stated earlier that the russians were shelling the pre-agreed route of the IAEA mission from Zaporizhzhia to the ZNPP.

"The advance group of the UN cannot continue the movement for security reasons. Ukraine continues to make efforts to organize safe access to the ZNPP for the IAEA international mission.

We demand from the russian federation to stop the provocations and grant the IAEA unimpeded access to the Ukrainian nuclear facility," governor Oleksandr Starukh said.

Reference

On August 31, the International Atomic Energy Agency mission went to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, where it is supposed to assess the situation and establish a permanent representation.

As noted, the invaders said they gave the mission one day to work.

The organization also intends to establish a permanent representation at the station.

It should be noted that the occupation authorities refused to issue special passes for IAEA experts.

The occupation authorities also added that it appears that they are expecting the mission to arrive in Enerhodar on the morning of September 1.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that the US considers the controlled shutdown of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to be a guarantee of its safety.

We should note that since the beginning of August, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which the russians captured on March 4, has been shelled.

From there, they fire on Nikopol, located on the other side of the Kakhovska Reservoir. Shelling threatens a nuclear catastrophe.

On August 25, the ZNPP was wholly disconnected from the power grid for the first time in history, but two power units later resumed operation.

Read Rubryka's daily timeline of war: current news on Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression.