Vienna [Austria], March 4 (ANI): Russian troops have occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, where a fire that had threatened potential disaster was extinguished in the early hours of Friday morning, said Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi on Friday. #Ukraine informed IAEA that Russian forces took control of the site of #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant; says safety systems of the plant’s six reactors had not been affected and there has been no release of radioactive material. Two people were reported injured,” IAEA tweeted.
Briefing on the Russian attack on the facility, the Director-General said, “A projectile hit a building within the plant site, this building is not part of the reactors, it is a training facility adjacent to the reactors. This caused a localised fire, which was extinguished by the local fire brigade at the plant.”
The plant is the largest of its kind in Ukraine and contains six of the country’s 15 nuclear energy reactors, according to IAEA. Director-General of IAEA Rafael Grossi said that the safety systems of the six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) were not affected by the fire, adding that adding there was no radiation release. “It is important to say that all the safety systems of the six reactors at the plant were not affected at all and that there has been no release of radioactive material … importantly, in this regard, is the radiation monitoring systems … are fully functional as well,” Grossi said in a press conference on the situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant a
“The physical integrity of the (nuclear) plant has been compromised, we are fortunate that there was no release of radiation and that the integrity of the reactors themselves was not compromised,” Grossi said.
Emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and integrity of a nuclear facility, he said, “It is time for action, we need to do something about this. I have indicated both to the Russian Federation and Ukraine, my availability and disposition to travel to Chernobyl as soon as possible.” The IAEA official also answered a question on whether IAEA would send its teams to Ukraine to assess the situation on the ground saying that IAEA does not intend to send its teams before a visit by the Director-General himself.
“The first thing we must have is a framework within which to operate and I would never put my staff in harm’s way before going myself and trying to set up those conditions,” Grossi said.
US, EU allies call UNSC emergency meeting on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear plant
Washington [US], March 4 (ANI/Sputnik): The United States and its European allies have requested an emergency meeting on Ukraine over recent developments near the Zaporizhzhia NPP, with the meeting scheduled for 11:30 EST (16:30 GMT), a source told Sputnik on Friday.
“We have just received a request [from] US, UK, Albania, France, Norway and Ireland,” the source said.
Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian authorities attempted a provocation overnight by accusing Russia of creating a source of radioactive contamination at Zaporizhzhia NPP. While patrolling the area adjacent to the station, a group of the Russian National Guard was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage unit who opened fire on them from the windows of several floors of an educational and training complex located outside the NPP. The firing points of the Ukrainian sabotage group were suppressed by return fire. Leaving the building, the sabotage group set it on fire.
The fire was put out and the NPP is working as usual, with radiation background at normal level, the Russian military said. (ANI/Sputnik)
Moscow says Kyiv sought to accuse Russia of creating radiation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
Moscow [Russia], March 4 (ANI/Sputnik): Kyiv wanted to accuse Russia of creating a radiation focus at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP), Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday.
The ministry said that Kyiv attempted to implement a monstrous provocation on the territory adjacent to the Zaporizhzhia NPP overnight. In particular, while patrolling the protected area adjacent to the station, a mobile patrol of the Russian National Guard was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage group — the heavy fire was opened from small arms from the windows of several floors of an educational and training complex located outside the power plant. The firing points of the Ukrainian sabotage groups were suppressed by return fire from small arms. Leaving the building, the sabotage groups set fire to the building.
“The purpose of the provocation of the Kyiv regime at the nuclear facility is an attempt to accuse Russia of creating a source of radioactive contamination. All this testifies to the criminal intent of the Kyiv regime or Zelenskyy’s complete loss of control over the actions of Ukrainian sabotage groups with the participation of foreign mercenaries,” Konashenkov told reporters.
The fire was put out, he said, adding that now it is working as usual, and the radiation background is normal. (ANI/Sputnik)
