President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky received on Tuesday (30) in Kyiv a team from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to visit the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, occupied by Russian troops.

The satellite image shows the nuclear power plant and its surroundings, where buildings have recently been bombed. Photo: Handout/Maxar Technologies/AFP/ND

“We want the IAEA mission (…) to come to the plant and do everything possible to avoid the dangers” of a possible nuclear catastrophe, Zelenskiy said of the Zaporozhye plant, which has been bombed in recent weeks, according to a video released by the Ukrainian Presidency.

“This is one of the main security issues for Ukraine and the whole world in connection with the occupation of our Zaporozhye plant by the Russian military and the high risk of an explosion” and a nuclear catastrophe, Zelensky told the delegation led by the general director. from AIEA, Rafael Grossi.

What to expect from a visit

Zelensky also said that the international community should press Russia for “the immediate demilitarization of the plant, the withdrawal of all Russian soldiers with all their explosives and weapons,” and the full restoration of Ukrainian control over the plant.

Zaporozhye NPP is one of the four operating in Ukraine and the largest nuclear power plant in Europe with six reactors with a capacity of 1000 megawatts each.

The plant has been occupied by Russian forces since early March, shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine, and has been the target of bombing raids that Kyiv and Moscow blame each other for.

Last week, the plant was briefly offline for the first time in its history after several power cables were damaged.