IAEA finds no mines or explosives near two power units at Zaporizhzhia NPP
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi (Photo: Getty Images)
Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not find any mines or explosive materials on the roofs of the buildings of reactors 3 and 4, as well as in the machine rooms of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), according to the Director General statement, Rafael Mariano Grossi.
"Following repeated requests, the team had unimpeded access to the rooftops of the two reactor units and could also clearly view the rooftops of the turbine halls. The team will continue its requests to visit the roofs of the other four units at ZNPP," the statement said.
Director-General Grossi emphasized the importance of providing timely access to all areas of the Zaporizhzhia NPP to IAEA experts for monitoring the full compliance with the five fundamental principles of protecting Europe's largest nuclear power station during the war in Ukraine.
According to him, experts did not observe any mines or explosive materials on the roofs of reactors 3 and 4 buildings, as well as in the machine rooms of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Explosions in the area of the ZNPP
The night before the rotation, the team reported hearing explosions near the plant.
The Zaporizhzhia NPP informed the group that these explosions did not impact the site, the neighboring industrial zone, or the city of Energodar.
Previously detected mines still in place
In the last week, IAEA teams conducted additional inspections and surveys at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
"After surveying the site's perimeter on August 1, the group confirmed that the mines first detected on July 23 are still in place," the statement said.
During the past week, no new mines or explosive materials were found during the surveys.
Situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP
Previously, the Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that the Russians had additionally mined the Zaporizhzhia NPP. In particular, they placed explosives on the cooling systems of the power units. Further, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the Russians could carry out a terrorist attack at the occupied station with a radiation release.
The Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine, Oleh Korikov, reported that IAEA experts recorded explosions in the area of the seized station on July 26 and 27. They also discovered mines on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
Previously, Ukrainian sappers found two Russian anti-personnel mines on the route of the IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
