Russia uses Zaporizhzhia power plant as munition storage despite IAEA visit
Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (photo: Getty Images)
Russia is using the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP to deploy its military, as well as to store ammunition and explosives. This is despite the IAEA visit this week, reports the Center for National Resistance.
According to the data provided to the information resource by the Ukrainian underground and concerned citizens, Russian National Guard units with a total strength of up to 1300 people are deployed on the territory of the ZNPP.
“In particular, we identified the units of OMSN “Akhmat-1” (Grozny, TOT of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria) and SRRU “Agat” (Penza, Russia). For the sake of disguise, some of the occupiers on duty use the uniforms of the ZNPP paramilitary guard, not the Russian National Guard,” the statement said.
In addition, the enemy uses the technical and basement premises of the station to store small arms and artillery ammunition. They are intended both to supply the contingent deployed at ZNPP and the forces in adjacent positions.
According to the Center, the Russians have laid more than 20 minefields around the city. They surround the plant and the city and have a total length of about 6.5 km. The enemy still fears the scenario of a possible landing of the Ukrainian Defense Forces from Dnipro.
The news outlet noted that despite the visit of the IAEA mission this week, the Russians had carefully and in advance planned their route.
“Given the courtesy and hugs shown by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to the Russian leadership of the occupied nuclear power plant, it is no wonder that his team once again failed to notice the significant accumulation of Russian troops and weapons on the territory of the nuclear power plant,” the CNR writes.
The resource also added that this is not the first time that the Russians have not granted the IAEA access to the western part of the two turbine halls. However, the organization's representative office only recorded this fact and did not make any decision regarding the representative office of Rosatom, which operates the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
About a week ago, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that as long as the war continues and there is a threat to the safety of the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP, no reactor will be restarted during this period. They must remain in a state of “cold shutdown”.
