WSJ: IAEA inspectors intend to visit ZNPP early next week

WASHINGTON, Aug 26 – PRIME Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) intend to visit the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant early next week, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources.

An unnamed interlocutor of the publication said that the IAEA mission at the beginning of next week “almost certainly” will visit the ZNPP, although the details are still being discussed. According to the source, now there are “feverish preparations” for the upcoming visit.

According to the newspaper, the IAEA team may deliver spare parts, radiation monitoring devices and other means to the ZNPP amid fears that hostilities in the area could lead to a nuclear catastrophe.

ZNPP is located on the left bank of the Dnieper near Energodar. This is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe in terms of the number of units and installed capacity. Since March, it has been under the protection of the Russian military. The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed the justification for the Russian military to guard the power plant from the point of view of preventing leaks of nuclear and radioactive materials. The Ukrainian military continues to regularly shell Energodar, the surrounding villages and the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant adjacent to the city.

Earlier, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that the agency’s mission would arrive at the Zaporozhye NPP in the coming days. According to him, it is necessary to determine the parameters of the agency’s mission at the Zaporozhye NPP and, possibly, to establish its permanent presence on the spot.