The director of the U.N. atomic watchdog agency has arrived in Russia for discussions on nuclear safety in Ukraine, particularly focusing on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently at risk due to ongoing conflict in the region.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised concerns about the potential for a nuclear catastrophe at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which has been impacted by the conflict since Russia's military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.
Despite the plant's six reactors being offline for several months, there is still a need for power and qualified personnel to manage essential cooling systems and safety protocols.
The IAEA Director-General recently arrived in Sochi, Russia, for talks, following an announcement made during a meeting of the agency's board of governors in Vienna.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with the IAEA chief during his visit, as confirmed by the Kremlin.
Earlier this year, the IAEA Director-General visited Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia plant to assess the situation firsthand and engage in discussions with Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Highlighting the fragile nature of the current situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant, the IAEA chief emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue with all parties involved.
During the discussions in Moscow, technical issues related to the plant's operational status and safety evaluations will be key topics. The IAEA is particularly concerned about the plant's external power supply lines, which are currently described as 'fragile and thin.'
Since the plant has experienced multiple power outages post-seizure, relying on emergency diesel generators, ongoing challenges related to staffing and operational readiness persist.
