The head of the IAEA announced the intensification of hostilities around the ZNPP

Military operations around the Zaporozhye NPP are intensifying, in this regard, it is necessary to take measures to protect the plant. This statement was made by Director General Rafael Grossi during his visit to ZNPP.

“Obviously, the situation is not improving, on the contrary, hostilities around this territory are intensifying,” he said (quote according to TASS).

Grossi also called for all necessary measures to be taken to protect the Zaporizhzhya NPP from any attacks. The head of the IAEA added that now the organization is focused on developing a concept for ensuring the safety of the station itself, and not the area around it, as previously proposed. He also promised to prepare “realistic measures” that would suit both sides.

Earlier today, an IAEA delegation led by Grossi arrived at the ZNPP. This is the second visit of the head of the IAEA to the station since the beginning of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine. During the trip, Grossi, together with the adviser to the General Director of the Rosenergoatom Concern, Renat Karchaa, inspected the territory of the Zaporizhzhya NPP.

The IAEA delegation includes 11 people, including Grossi. They are accompanied by seven more people – representatives of the UN Department of Security and Support. Three inspectors from Slovakia, France and Japan will stay at the station for approximately two months.

The day before, on March 28, Karchaa said that specialists would spend no more than seven hours at the ZNPP. He stressed that there are no weapons on the territory of the station. At the same time, Karchaa did not rule out “free interpretations and aggravation of the situation around the ZNPP” following the results of the IAEA visit.

Earlier, the head of the IAEA visited the station on September 1, 2022 against the backdrop of regular shelling of the facility by the Ukrainian side. Then the organization called for an end to the attacks on the ZNPP, without specifying who was shelling the plant, and to establish a safe zone around it.

The IAEA director general has been promoting the idea of ​​a demilitarized zone over the past few months. March 9 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declaredthat the countries approached an agreement on the initiative, but it was blocked by the Ukrainian authorities. March 23 Grossi informedthat the IAEA abandoned the idea due to “territorial issues”.

ZNPP has been under Russian control since the end of February 2022. On September 30, the Zaporozhye region, as well as the DPR, LPR and Kherson region became part of Russia. Then the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin ordered to transfer the Zaporizhzhya NPP to federal ownership. Rosenergoatom became its operator.