The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, announced Thursday that the physical integrity of “the largest nuclear facility in Europe has been violated” as a result of its repeated bombing.
After inspecting the nuclear facility, Grossi told reporters, “It is clear that the plant and its physical integrity have been violated several times.”
“We don’t have the elements to assess this,” he added, but “this matter cannot continue.”
Grossi pointed out that part of the agency’s team of experts will remain in the facility for several days, “until Sunday or Monday,” without specifying their number.
He explained that these inspectors will remain to “continue to assess” the situation at the station, which was bombed several times.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of bombing it.
The visit by a delegation of 14 inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to Zaporizhia was highly anticipated for the station.
“We have a lot of work here to analyze some of the technical aspects,” Grossi said.
Grossi had said, on Wednesday, that the International Atomic Energy Agency would try to “maintain a permanent presence” at the plant.
After the inspection mission, which lasted “about four or five hours” at the station, the Argentine said he was able to see “many things”.
“We were able to visit the entire site. I was in the units (the reactors) and saw the emergency system and other parts, the control rooms,” he said, praising the dedication of the Ukrainian staff who continued to work at the plant.
“Of course they are in a very difficult situation, but they are incredibly professional,” he said.
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