IAEA chief in Ukraine to inspect nuclear plant under siege

The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, will arrive in Kyiv on Tuesday to meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky before heading to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

A view shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict outside Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, March 29, 2023. © REUTERS / ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO

Since the conflict's start IAEA chief Grossi has warned of the potential for a nuclear accident at the plant, which he has previously visited twice and where a permanent IAEA team is based.

Sitting on the Dnipro river, the Russian-held Kakhovka dam, which was breached last week in an incident blamed by Kyiv on Moscow, forms a reservoir that provides the cooling water for the Russian-occupied plant.

A satellite image shows damaged Nova Kakhovka Dam, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region, Ukraine, June 6, 2023. PLANET LABS PBC via REUTERS - HANDOUT

The IAEA has warned that the Kakhovka dam disaster which claimed at least 10 lives and has left dozens missing further "(complicated) an already precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the" plant.

"On my way to Ukraine to meet President" Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted Grossi on Monday with a picture of him and his team leaving Vienna where the IAEA headquarters is based.

On my way to 🇺🇦 #Ukraine to meet President @ZelenskyyUa & present a programme of assistance in the aftermath of the catastrophic Nova Kakhovka dam flooding. I will assess the situation at #Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant & conduct a rotation of ISAMZ with a strengthened team. pic.twitter.com/x7Jy2ym6es

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) June 12, 2023

"I will present a programme of assistance in the aftermath of the catastrophic Nova Kakhovka dam flooding," Grossi said.

"I will assess the situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," and "conduct a rotation of ISAMZ," he added referring to the IAEA's Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia (ISAMZ), "with a strengthened team".

On Sunday Grossi repeated his demand for full access to the plant for IAEA experts to measure the reservoir's water levels and produce an "independent" evaluation.

• UN warns of 'grave consequences' as Ukrainians flee breached dam

They will "clarify the reason for a significant discrepancy between different measurements of the height of the reservoir that is supplying water to cool the facility's six reactors and spent fuel storage", Grossi said.

“I fully expect that our experts will be able to go there very soon to independently assess the situation. I will also personally raise this important matter with the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant,” he added in a statement.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi attends a news conference during an IAEA board of governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, June 5, 2023. © REUTERS / LEONHARD FOEGER

(With agencies)