IAEA head intends to visit Russia and Ukraine in the near future

The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is preparing to pay visits to Russia and Ukraine in the next few weeks, Reuters reported on 22 January.

According to the media outlet, the reason for Grossi's visit is "the IAEA's concern over military activity in the area of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP)".

Earlier, on January 17, Grossi said that explosions near Zaporizhzhya ZNPP occur daily. 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 Zaporizhzhya 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 is 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.