The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team, which has been at the large nuclear power plant in the Zaporizhzhya region since Thursday, is not accompanied by international media, even though it was the appointment. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky said in his video message on Thursday evening that Russian troops only allowed Russian media through.
While it cannot be verified whether international media were indeed stopped by “Russian occupiers” at the Enerhodar nuclear power plant complex, as Zelensky claims, it is certain that IAEA chief Rafael Grossi spoke only with Russian media on Thursday.
Images on Russian state television show how only microphones from Russian media were used in the interview with Grossi. Later, the leader of the delegation of experts himself posted a video on Twitter.
Zelensky calls it important that foreign media be allowed access to the nuclear power plant complex in southern Ukraine “so that the world sees the truth”. Nevertheless, he hopes that the IAEA delegation will reach independent conclusions even without the presence of the international press.
The plant, which is occupied by Russia, has recently come under regular fire. Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the attacks. Grossi reported Thursday that the nuclear complex has suffered damage, without divulging the exact extent of this. “But it’s something that can’t go on,” he said.