Ukraine on Wednesday called on the international community to take “immediate measures” to address risks at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, with both sides accusing each other of the imminent provocation.
• Also read: Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant: Kiev and Moscow accuse each other of provocations
• Also read: Russia is preparing an attack on a nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia
“Russia has deployed military personnel, fortified at least three reactors and planted explosives at the plant… It is time for the world to take immediate action,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.
The International Atomic Energy Agency demanded Wednesday access to all buildings of Ukraine’s nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, which are occupied by Russian forces, “to confirm that there are no mines or explosives at the site.”
“As tensions and military activity escalate in the region, our experts must be able to verify facts on the ground” in an “independent and objective” manner, Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement.
He stressed that it was “very important to clarify the current situation” at a time when both sides are accusing each other of planning a “provocation” or “attack”.
Over the past few weeks, IAEA personnel at the site have been inspecting various locations “without noting any traces of mines or explosives yet.”
But the UN agency was unable to reach the rooftops of the buildings that house reactors 3 and 4 or even certain areas of the plant’s cooling system.
The IAEA adds that the military presence “doesn’t appear to have changed,” nor has it recently noted any nearby bombing.
On Tuesday, Kiev accused Moscow of preparing a “provocation” at the site, while Russia confirmed that the enemy country was planning an “attack” on the facility.
The Ukrainian military claims that “IED-like objects” were placed on the roofs in question.
And the military continues, warning that Moscow “will provide disinformation on this matter”:
Moscow, for its part, maintains that Kiev has planned to use “precision long-range weapons” and drones.
After falling into the hands of the Russian military on March 4, 2022, Europe’s largest power plant has come under fire and been cut off from the power grid on several occasions, a precarious situation that raises fears of a major nuclear accident.
