IAEA putting staff in all Ukrainian nuclear plants due to safety concerns

The International Atomic Energy Agency is deploying teams of experts at all four of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to reduce the risk of severe accidents as Russia’s war against the country continues, agency head Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday.

The IAEA, which is affiliated with the United Nations, has a permanent presence in Ukraine’s – and Europe’s – largest nuclear plant in Zaporizhzhia held by Russian forces.

The IAEA’s permanent presence at all Ukrainian nuclear facilities, with at least 11 staff in total, marks an unprecedented expansion for the agency. IAEA technicians will also be at Chornobyl, the now-closed nuclear plant that was the site of a deadly nuclear accident in 1986 that spread across Europe.

“Starting tomorrow, there will be two flags on all nuclear facilities in Ukraine; one from Ukraine and the second from the international nuclear agency,” said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a joint press conference with Grossi at the government headquarters in Kyiv. on Wednesday.

Grossi’s pledge of IAEA support to Ukraine comes as the country comes after Russia’s weekend missile attack on an apartment building in the southeastern city of Dnipro killed 45 civilians, and Wednesday’s helicopter crash in a kindergarten in the Kyiv region killed the country’s interior minister. . and about a dozen others.

‘Not just symbolic’

Grossi arrived in Ukraine this week to raise the IAEA flag and install staff at each nuclear facility, visiting Chornobyl on Wednesday and Rivne on Tuesday. Staff will remain at the facility “as long as requested” by the Ukrainian government, he said.

The IAEA flag flying over Ukraine is “not only symbolic” Grossi said. “They reflect and will signal that there are some of the most famous security and safety experts who will provide advice, and technical support during this very difficult time for each facility that faces different challenges and problems depending on the situation.”

Shmyhal also said that he demanded that the IAEA impose sanctions on the Russian Atomic Energy Agency, reduce Moscow’s rights and privileges at the IAEA and end nuclear cooperation with the country. Grossi said the decision would be left to member states to discuss.

The IAEA is seeking to establish a security zone in Zaporizhzhia

IAEA experts will increase technical expertise at each plant to prevent nuclear accidents while Russia’s war, now in its 11th month, continues, and to monitor nuclear safety and security systems. Grossi said the mission was installed at the request of the Ukrainian government.

The Ukrainians made the request because “there have been enough attacks on (facilities),” the prime minister said. “We want to avoid a nuclear accident, so we go to the IAEA for safety and protection.”

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is located on the front line of the war between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Russian forces seized the facility in March, and it has since been repeatedly attacked. All six reactors there are now shut down, although the plant is still connected to the power grid for safety reasons.

Grossi pushed for the creation of a nuclear safety and security protection zone around Zaporizhzhia, where the IAEA has been present for more than four months.

“I remain determined to make the much-needed protection zone a reality as soon as possible. Consultations with Ukraine and Russia are progressing, although not as quickly as expected,” Grossi said in a statement earlier on Tuesday.

In a press conference, he said that the IAEA is still in talks with the Ukrainian government about establishing a zone. “We are closer to a good result,” he said.