Moscow, May 31: Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have conducted an inspection at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, focusing on the area affected by a Ukrainian drone strike. This information was reported by local media on Sunday.
According to reports, the IAEA team assessed the situation on-site and examined safety aspects. This inspection was crucial for evaluating the plant’s security and any potential threats.
As per a report from the Russian state news agency TASS, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to the international organization in Vienna, stated on Facebook, “IAEA experts inspected the damage caused by the Ukrainian drone attack on Unit 6 of the Zaporizhzhia NPP on May 30.”
The team observed damage to metal access hatches located several levels above the building, along with debris on the ground and remnants of burned optical fiber.
The agency noted that during the inspection, the team heard drone noises nearby and gunfire aimed at intercepting them, prompting them to seek temporary shelter. Nevertheless, they confirmed that radiation levels at the site remained normal using their equipment.
The IAEA also emphasized the need for access inside the building, as it is located near the Unit 6 reactor, to conduct a more detailed investigation.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi described the attack as a serious incident that poses a threat to the fundamental principles of nuclear safety. He stated that attacks on nuclear sites are unacceptable and must be prevented to avoid the real risk of a nuclear accident.
Meanwhile, Alexey Likhachev, head of Russia’s nuclear energy agency Rosatom, claimed that the attack was carried out by a Ukrainian combat drone operated via fiber optic control. He mentioned that the explosion created a hole in the turbine building, but did not damage the main equipment.
According to Likhachev, this marks the first time in history that a direct attack has been made on the main equipment of a nuclear power plant.
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KK/VC
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