The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are now in Ukraine and are heading to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant to inspect any damage and to asses that there is no chance there could be a radiation leak.
There are eight members the IAEA team and will arrive at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Thursday morning and are intending to be there for two days.
Despite Moscow previously saying they welcome the IAEA to visit the facility the head of the Russian-appointed local administration has now said they are only “allowed to visit for one day.”
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“The programme of the visit is designed for one day. They must see the work of the station in one day,” Yevgeniy Balitsky said, adding that they will be shown shrapnel of alleged Ukrainian shells.
IAEA mission arrives in Zaporizhzhia. Hope they will make it to the Nuclear Power Plant safe. pic.twitter.com/mWI5oqNtcP
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) August 31, 2022
In March Russian forces took over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the Ukrainian staff are being held at gun point and there have been reports that they have also been tortured.
Ahead of the planned visit Russia are now shelling the corridors which the IAEA mission will be driving through.
The head of the President’s Office of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak said, “Russia is deliberately shelling corridors for IAEA mission to reach ZNPP. All to offer passage through Crimea/ORDLO.
“Ukraine’s position is the same.
“Access only through controlled territory of Ukraine. Nuclear power plant demilitarization. Russian troops withdrawal. Only Ukraine’s personnel at the station.”
