ZNPP Security Zone: UN nuclear chief to visit Ukraine and russia

The General Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, intends to return to Ukraine shortly, Reuters reports.

Grossi said during a trip to Argentina that his return to Ukraine and russia was necessary to continue negotiations on creating a safe zone around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), illegally occupied by the russian armed forces.

"There is a possibility I will return to Ukraine and russia. It is, in fact, what we have agreed in principle. At this moment, we are continuing the consultations aimed at establishing the protection zone," the IAEA chief emphasized.

The Director General added that this involves interaction where he, as the head of the IAEA, receives answers and reactions from both sides.

"I am looking for new ways to move forward, and for that, at some point, probably very soon, I will have to return," Grossi emphasized.

These negotiations are considered key to eliminating concerns about the situation around the ZNPP.

They arose in August due to the risks of the russians shelling Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, or near territories. russia accuses Ukraine of attacking, and Ukraine states that russia is shelling the plant.

Regarding russia's use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine, the head of the IAEA believes that the russian federation may use it only as a "last resort."

"I believe that the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons is not an immediate possibility. Obviously, nothing can be ruled out, I am not in the decision-making mechanism of that country, but I believe that it would be an extreme measure," Grossi noted.

We will remind you that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi positively evaluates the results of the latest consultations with Ukraine and the russian federation regarding creating a safety zone around the ZNPP.

Reference

Before the start of the war, the ZNPP had access to the network through four high-voltage power lines, but three of them fell victim to hostilities.

Backup power lines, which offer indirect access to the power grid, have also been cut recently.

The General Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, positively assesses the results of the latest consultations with Ukraine and the russian federation regarding creating a safety zone around the ZNPP.

On October 17, due to the russian shelling of substations in the territory controlled by Ukraine, the last external power supply line of the ZNPP was disconnected.

Due to a short-term decrease in voltage, the reserve transformer of the ZNPP's needs was turned off, and the diesel generators were started.