Russia discusses with the IAEA international monitoring of the protective zone near the ZNPP

Russia is negotiating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding international monitoring of compliance with the agreements on the protective zone at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russian Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, said. transmit “RIA News”.

“As part of the creation of a physical and nuclear security protection zone at ZNPP, it is necessary to provide for international monitoring of compliance with the agreements. And it must be effective, otherwise the declaration will remain empty paper. We are also discussing this issue with the IAEA Secretariat,” Ulyanov said.

On November 21, the CEO of the state corporation “Rosatom» Alexey Likhachev warned about the risk of a nuclear accident at the Zaporozhye NPP against the backdrop of shelling by the armed forces of Ukraine (AFU). Such an incident can forever change the course of history, so everything possible must be done to prevent it, Likhachev argued.

Since the beginning of the military special operation, the station has been shelled, in which Russia and Ukraine accuse each other. Active shelling of the Zaporizhzhya NPP by the Armed Forces of Ukraine resumed on November 19 and 20. According to Renat Karchaa, Advisor to the Director General of the Rosenergoatom Concern, 15 arrivals were recorded, including from special building No. 2, where fresh nuclear fuel is stored.

In this regard, the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi urged “immediately stop” shelling of the station. “Whoever is behind this should stop immediately. As I have said many times, you are playing with fire,” he stressed. In the middle of October Grossi informed, which considers it possible to create a safe zone around the Zaporozhye NPP before the end of the year. Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov declaredthat Moscow is also concerned about the situation around the ZNPP. He said that all countries of the world need to influence Kyiv so that the Ukrainian military stops shelling the station.

Earlier, Grossi said the IAEA is “very difficult” definewho is shelling the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. He also drew attention to the progress in the negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv on the creation of a security zone around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. However, according to him, it is very difficult to reach agreements in conditions when the object is located in the combat zone.

At the same time, before that, Peskov informedthat there are no “significant progress” in the issue of creating a security zone around the Zaporizhzhya NPP. He drew attention to the fact that the threat to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is posed by those who shell the power plant, that is, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but IAEA specialists are “not authorized” to say who exactly is shelling, Peskov stressed.

Russia has controlled the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant since the end of February. In early October, after the entry of the Zaporozhye region into Russia, President Vladimir Putin instructed to take the plant facilities into federal ownership and create the Zaporozhye NPP Federal State Unitary Enterprise to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities.

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