The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published, on Tuesday, September 6, its 52-page report on the situation of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, occupied by Russian forces, which has posed a radiological risk for month.
Its publication comes the day after the disconnection of the last reactor in operation at the plant, located in the south of the country. This line, connected to a nearby thermal power station, “was deliberately disconnected in order to extinguish a fire”, explained the IAEA in a press release. But “it was not damaged”, and it should be reconnected as soon as possible.
In its report, the IAEA called for the establishment of a “safety zone” to prevent a nuclear accident at the nuclear power plant. “The current situation is untenable,” writes the UN body in this text.
“It is urgent to take provisional measures”, she continues, advocating “the immediate establishment of a nuclear security and protection zone”. “The bombardments on the site and in the surrounding area must stop immediately to avoid causing further damage to the installations”, insists the IAEA, saying it is “ready to start consultations”.
The Agency also notes “the extremely stressful conditions” in which Ukrainian personnel work, under the control of Russian troops.
For weeks, confusion has reigned around the Zaporizhia power plant, the largest in Europe, which has been hit by multiple strikes for which kyiv and Moscow accuse each other. After many negotiations, an IAEA delegation was able to visit its site last Thursday. Two inspectors must remain on site permanently. “I hope it will be objective,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said before the report was released. He had criticized the IAEA last week for having concealed the question of the “demilitarization” of the site.
