UN nuclear chief goes to Kyiv and Moscow to bat for nuclear security zone

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, plans to visit Kyiv and Moscow this week to negotiate the creation of a safety zone around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the IAEA press service reports.

The current visits are part of the efforts "aimed at agreeing and implementing a nuclear safety and security zone around the ZNPP as soon as possible."

Grossi also appealed to the russian federation regarding the detention of the general director of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, Ihor Murashov.

"Such a detention of any member of the plant staff would be a source of grave concern in itself, but also for its psychological impact and pressure on the rest of the staff – which is detrimental to nuclear safety and security," said Director General Grossi.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, previously announced that the IAEA is making every effort to release Ihor Murashov, the general director of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, kidnapped by the russian occupiers, and informed the IAEA General Director, Rafael Grossi, that Ukraine is ready to facilitate the rotation of the agency's experts at the plant.

As Rubryka reported, on September 30, the general director of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, Ihor Murashov, was detained by a russian patrol on the road from the station to Enerhodar. His car was stopped, and he was forcibly detained, blindfolded, and taken in an unknown direction

Ukraine has condemned the detention of the general director of ZNPP and asked the world to influence russia for his release.

Reference

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, in the address to the UN Security Council on September 22, called for establishing a Nuclear Safety and Security Protection Zone at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Ukraine. He pointed out that it is urgently needed to ensure that the physical integrity of the plant is not compromised. Since March, Zaporizhzhia NPP has been controlled by russian forces but is operated by its Ukrainian staff.

In a session discussing threats to international peace and security, Mr. Grossi outlined findings and recommendations from the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ), released in its Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine: 2nd Summary Report.

Stressing the need for a protection zone, including an end to the shelling around the plant, he explained that the first important safety pillar that exists in any nuclear facility is not to violate its physical integrity. Mr. Grossi said that, unfortunately, "this has happened and this continues to happen," adding that "we are playing with fire, and something very catastrophic could take place."