Physical integrity of Zaporizhzhia plant ‘violated’, says UN nuclear chief

The “physical integrity” of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in south-eastern Ukraine has been “violated”, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said, as Ukraine’s authorities accused Russia of misleading the inspection mission.

Rafael Grossi led a team of inspectors to the Russian-controlled plant that has been frequently shelled in recent weeks, raising fears of a nuclear incident.

“It is obvious that the plant and physical integrity of the plant has been violated several times,” Grossi told reporters after he returned with part of his team to the Ukrainian-controlled area on Thursday. Grossi said although he would continue to worry about the plant, the situation was “more predictable” now.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, accused Russia of intimidating people in the nearby town of Enerhodar to lie to the IAEA representatives about events at the plant and “sign things”.

Ukraine and Russia have traded blame over attacks on and near the plant, with Ukraine claiming they are false-flag operations carried out by Russia.

Zelenskiy also voiced concerns over Ukrainian and international journalists not being allowed to travel with the delegation, as previously agreed. He said the occupying forces did not allow the journalists to cross the frontlines.

“Unfortunately, IAEA representatives did not protect representatives of independent media,” said Zelenskiy, who said only Russian propagandists were present.

Grossi said he and the team spent three, four or five hours at the plant. “I have seen a lot, and I have my people there, we were able to tour the whole site.”

He said part of his 14-strong mission to the plant would stay at the facility “until Sunday or Monday, continuing with the assessment. We are not going anywhere. The IAEA is now there, it is at the plant and it is not moving – it’s going to stay there.”

Grossi said the group of IAEA experts would provide an impartial, neutral and technically sound assessment of the situation.

“We have a lot of work there, to do analysis of some technical aspects,” Grossi said. The IAEA would assess physical damage to the plant, ensure its safety and security systems were functional, and evaluate the conditions of the facility’s staff, he said.

A report would be produced on their findings, Grossi added.

The UN nuclear chief did not specify how many people would remain at the facility, adding: “We could draw up a number of questions and initial observations, initial assessments, and they are going to dig deeper into that so that we could have a report.”

The Ukrainian energy minister, German Galushchenko, said on Thursday it was being discussed that certain IAEA specialists – “up to two individuals” – would be permanently stationed at the plant. “But it is important for us that the station must be under national control, meaning that the station must be returned to the control of Ukraine,” he told Ukraine’s 1+1 television channel.

Grossi said the security situation was “pretty difficult” during his visit. “There were moments where fire was obvious, heavy machine gun, artillery, mortars two or three times – we were very concerned.”

But he noted the mission received “splendid support from the UN security team”.

“I think we showed that the international community is there, could be there and we will be continuing this,” Grossi said.

Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, has faced repeated shelling in recent weeks, with Kyiv and Moscow blaming each other for the attacks, raising concerns of a possible disaster. On Thursday, a dawn shelling attack on the area forced one of the plant’s six reactors to shut down.

Energoatom, Ukraine’s nuclear agency, said it was the second time in 10 days that Russian shelling had forced the closure of a reactor. It said the plant’s emergency protection system kicked in shortly before 5am (0300 BST), shutting reactor five, with the attack damaging a backup power supply.

In a video address late on Thursday, Zelenskiy reiterated his frequent calls that all troops be removed from the plant. “The main thing that must happen is the demilitarisation of the station’s territory,” he said. “Demilitarisation and full control of Ukrainian nuclear workers.”