Kyiv (dpa-AFX) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj received experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Kyiv. “The arrival of the IAEA mission in Ukraine is certainly one of the most important security issues of Ukraine and the world today,” he said, according to a video shown on public television on Tuesday.
Selenskyj named an “immediate demilitarization” of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine as a goal. A demilitarized zone should be created around the power plant. “And the transfer of the nuclear power plant under the control of the Ukrainian state,” emphasized Zelenskyy. This is the only way to rule out all nuclear risks.
The 14 experts, led by IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, are to travel across the front line to the nuclear power plant in the Russian-controlled area. Your task is to check the condition of the power plant. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the nuclear power plant came under the control of the Russian army in early March. Buildings and the nearby town of Enerhodar were repeatedly fired at with rocket launchers and artillery. Kyiv denies any responsibility and accuses the Russian troops of shooting themselves. With its six reactors, the nuclear power plant is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe./ast/DP/stw