Grossi said there was a continuing threat to nuclear safety at ZNPP

The situation with nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP) is not improving, and the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is far from being completed. This was stated in a statement by the agency's Director General Rafael Grossi on January 23.

It is noted that IAEA inspectors at the ZNPP over the past week have heard frequent explosions outside the facility, which means "a continuing threat to nuclear safety."

"The situation is not improving. It is still unstable. I remain seriously concerned about nuclear safety <...> at Zaporizhzhya NPP. Our work is far from over," Grossi said in a statement.

The day before, Reuters reported that Grossi was preparing to make visits to Russia and Ukraine in the next few weeks. As the agency noted, the reason for the IAEA Director General's visit is the agency's concern over military activity in the area of the ZNPP.

Earlier, on January 17, Grossi said that explosions near ZNPP take place on a daily basis. According to the director general of the organization, these explosions threaten nuclear safety and security of nuclear power plants.

Before that, on 5 January, the IAEA said that explosions occurred near ZNPP after a Ukrainian drone attacked the plant's training center. At the same time, it became known that Ukrainian militants attacked the roof of Building G of the Zaporizhzhya NPP training center with a drone. It was specified that as a result of the attack no one was injured, also there was no destruction.

In early December last year, Grossi said that the situation around Zaporizhzhya NPP, as long as there are hostilities near the facility, continues to be tense and unstable.

Zaporizhzhya region, where the nuclear power plant is located, became part of the Russian Federation following a referendum in September 2022. Since that time, Zaporizhzhya NPP has been under constant IAEA control.