IAEA Director General to report to UN Security Council on visit to Ukraine Tuesday

"We are now trying to give an in-depth assessment of the situation. And I plan to make a preliminary report next week, once we have the full picture," Grossi said during a press conference at the Vienna airport after returning from Ukraine.

He added that he would report to the UN Security Council "on our conclusions and what is happening" on Tuesday.

According to the IAEA Director General, a "unique and unprecedented" situation has developed at the Zaporizhzhia NPP as "there is a Ukrainian nuclear power plant that is controlled by the Russian occupation forces."

When asked if the IAEA learned anything new as a result of the visit, Grossi replied: "We knew a lot, but of course our job is to inspect. And the difference between being there and not being there is like the difference between day and night. We had a lot information about various things, but now I and my technical experts are able to assess their seriousness."

As Grossi noted, the IAEA now knows "much more" and continues to receive more information as some experts remained at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

He added that the issue of ceding the control of the ZNPP to Ukraine was "outside the capabilities" of the IAEA which deals with inspection and technical issues.

At the same time, Grossi did not mention the need to create a demilitarized zone around the ZNPP. When asked by journalists about Ukraine's criticism of the IAEA for the lack of such appeals, he stated that every state "has the right to expect that the Agency will say what it would like to be said."

As reported, the IAEA mission led by Rafael Grossi arrived in Ukraine and visited the Zaporizhzhia NPP captured by the Russians on September 1.

The ZNNP, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, has been captured by the Russian military since March 4, the invaders have placed military equipment and ammunition in the plant’s territory and have been shelling the surrounding area.

The United Nations, the United States, and Ukraine called on the Russian Federation to withdraw military equipment and personnel from the nuclear facility.

Photo credit: D. Calma/IAEA

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