Zaporizhzhia: IAEA warns whoever was behind ‘powerful explosions’ at nuclear plant is ‘playing with fire’

CNN
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Strong explosions shook Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine this weekend, raising fears that fighting too close to the facility could cause a nuclear accident.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said that whoever was responsible for the attacks was “playing with fire”, echoing the warning he had issued. in September.

IAEA experts at the plant said more than a dozen explosions were heard briefly on Sunday morning local time, the nuclear watchdog said in a statement. Shelling was observed both near and at the site of the facility. IAEA officials were even able to see some of the explosions from their windows, the nuclear watchdog said.

“Whoever is behind this, it must stop immediately,” added Grossi.

Based on information provided by plant management, the IAEA team said there had been damage to a number of buildings, systems and equipment at the site of the plant, “but no equipment so far. critical to nuclear safety and security,” the agency said. There were no reports of casualties.

Kiev and Moscow blame each other for the attacks.

Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company Energoatom said it appeared Russian forces were trying to impede the country’s ability to provide electricity to the population. The Kremlin has, in recent weeks, conducted a campaign of bombing and air raids Ukraine’s infrastructure is designed to cripple Kyiv’s ability to provide heat to residents as winter approaches.

The Russian Defense Ministry alleges that the explosions in Zaporizhzhia were the result of artillery fire by the Ukrainian army.

Ukraine has repeatedly accused the Russian military storage of heavy weapons inside the complex and used it as cover to launch attacks, knowing that Ukraine could not return fire without risking hitting one of the plant’s reactors.

CNN was unable to verify claims made by Energoatom or the Russian government.

Grossi and the IAEA have repeatedly called on both sides to implement a nuclear safety and security zone around Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. The IAEA said that Grossi had engaged in “close consultations with Ukraine and Russia on the establishment of such a zone, but to date no agreement has been reached”.

Fighting near Zaporizhzhia has been intermittent since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February and confiscated the factory a few days later. Intense shelling near the complex this summer has raised fears of a nuclear accident, prompting the IAEA to send a team there.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a decree in October The federalized plant is located about 120 km (75 mi) from the city and in the occupied Russian territory along the Dnipro River. The move raised concerns about the fate of Ukrainian technicians who have been operating the plant since it was occupied by Russian forces.

The explosions on Saturday and Sunday ended what the IAEA said was “a period of relative peace”.