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Posted by: Cornelia Stefoglu
News / International
16 July 2022 / 10:22
Ukraine: Extremely tense situation at Zaporozhye nuclear power plant
The Russian army has deployed rocket launchers at the site of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (south), which has been under Russian control since early March, and with which it mainly hits Nikopol district, the head of Energoatom, the Ukrainian operator, told AFP.
"The situation (at the plant) is extremely tense and the tension increases day by day. The occupants bring their machinery there, including the rocket systems with which they have already hit the Dnieper River and the Nikopol territory, "80 km southwest of Zaporozhye, Energoatom President Petro Kotin told Telegram after a TV interview on Ukrainian United News.
According to him, up to 500 Russian soldiers are still at the plant.
"Heavy equipment (tanks, armored vehicles), occupants and trucks loaded with weapons and explosives remain parked at the plant's site," he said, saying the pressure was "insufficient" to make them leave and criticizing the International Atomic Energy Agency in particular.
Its director general, Rafael Grossi, on Thursday insisted, according to a statement, on the "importance" of the IAEA being able to visit the plant to carry out "essential security, safety and protection operations at the largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine."
The agency was unable to go to the nuclear plant since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24th.
The site is occupied by Russian forces, but Ukrainian personnel continue to operate it, the statement said, citing an "extremely difficult" situation due to "constant pressure on staff".
Rafael Grossi reiterated his "growing fears" about the conditions of these employees and "the impact of these conditions on the safety and security of the plant."
In 2021, the plant supplied 20% of Ukraine's annual electricity production and 47% of that produced by the Ukrainian nuclear park, AFP writes.
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