In a long-awaited report made public on Tuesday 6 September, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for the establishment of a “safe zone” to prevent a nuclear accident at the Ukrainian power plant in Zaporizhia, occupied by the Russians, estimating that “The current situation is untenable”.
“It is urgent to take provisional measures”writes the UN body in this fifty-two-page text, advocating “the 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 to itself “ready to start consultations”.
“Extremely stressful conditions”
The UN nuclear policeman also notes “extremely stressful conditions” in which Ukrainian personnel work, under the control of Russian troops.
Inspectors led by the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, noted last week the presence of Russian soldiers and military equipment in various places of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, including vehicles parked in the halls of turbines, says the report, which contradicts Moscow’s claims on this point. The report lists the damage inflicted on the plant, occupied since March by Russian forces and located near the front line, by the bombardments for which kyiv and Moscow are mutually responsible.
After many negotiations, an IAEA delegation was able to go on Thursday 1er September on its site, and two inspectors must remain on site permanently. Unlike UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Ukraine’s Western allies, the IAEA does not explicitly call for “demilitarization » from the plant. On the other hand, it calls for an improvement in the working conditions of the employees of the Ukrainian public energy company, who continue to operate the plant.