By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL- On Wednesday, a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia where they will proceed to the Russian-occupied nuclear plant. The plant has been the center of controversy between Russia and Ukraine because both sides are accusing the other of shelling at the plant. The IAEA mission is headed up by IAEA chief Rafael Grossi who will personally oversee the detailed inspection process.
According to media reports, the IAEA will inspect the safety of plant operations ever since there was repeated shelling near the plant which has set off panic about a nuclear disaster. Just three months ago, press reports stated that Norway had higher than normal levels of radioactivity in its atmosphere. The plant was captured by Russian forces after their February 24 invasion and is located very close to the front lines in the conflict. A witness from Reuters said the IAEA team left Kyiv in a convoy of vehicles after rounds of extensive negotiations. Grossi commented: “We have a very important task there to perform – to assess the real situations there, to help stabilize the situation as much as we can.” He added that the group is now finally making progress “after six months of strenuous efforts.” It still isn’t clear when the team will reach the nuclear plant or how long they need to inspect it. Grossi added: “We are going to a war zone, we are going to occupied territory and this requires explicit guarantees, not only from the Russian federation but also from Ukraine. We have been able to secure that.”
