Conflicts & War

Ukraine could face a nuclear accident: IAEA

Vienna, Sep 26 (EFE).- Ukraine could face a nuclear accident, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned Monday, adding that the agency’s biggest concern was the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which has been the target of frequent attacks.“We have first at the top of our list and preoccupations the situation in Ukraine,” Rafael Grossi, director general of the IAEA, said in an opening speech at the General Conference inauguration in Vienna. “We must do everything in our power to prevent a nuclear accident that would add tragedy to the suffering,” he added. The Argentinian diplomat referred to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant — the biggest in Europe — under Russian occupation since shortly after the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Grossi said the power plant was “under fire,” warning that if there were to be an accident “we will not have a natural catastrophe to blame for, we will just have our own inaction because we knew what needed to be done.” He added that he had been in contact with Russian and Ukrainian authorities, urging them to establish a nuclear safety protection zone around the plant. “There is a plan on the table to do it. Last week I had an opportunity to start consultations with Ukraine and with the Russian Federation, (…) and I am ready to continue these consultations in both countries this week,” Grossi said.Ukraine has accused Russia of being a “nuclear terrorist State” while Moscow blames Kyiv for the attacks on Zaporizhzhia’s nuclear plant. EFEas/aef/mp

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