The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wants to establish a permanent mission in the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. IAEA boss Rafael Grossi said on Thursday evening in a video statement published on Twitter. Inspectors had previously started their work in the nuclear power plant, which has been under fire for months. Grossi spoke of a “long-awaited visit”.
Russia had shown itself open to a permanent IAEA mission at the power plant. Kyiv, on the other hand, insists on the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and a demilitarization of the power plant area. The IAEA mission should represent the first step. Grossi said on Wednesday that the inspection should initially take several days.
“I just completed a first tour of the key areas,” Grossi said in the video. There is still a lot to do. Some experts drove back to the hotel in the afternoon, others stayed on the premises for further investigations.