The head of the IAEA on the Zaproža power plant: I am concerned about the very real risks to nuclear safety – News

“I am extremely concerned about the very real risks to nuclear safety that the plant faces. We must act now to prevent the threat of a serious nuclear accident and the associated consequences for the population and the environment,” Grossi said in a statement.

He was reacting to information according to which the head of the Russian occupation administration of the Zaporozhye region, which is located in the south of Ukraine, announced the evacuation of part of the population of 18 villages located near the front, apparently in connection with the expected Ukrainian counter-offensive. Residents of Enerhodar, which is located right next to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, are to be evacuated, among others.

In a Sunday morning situation report, the Ukrainian General Staff informs that “the Russian occupiers are evacuating residents from the temporarily occupied Enerhodar to Berdyansk and Primorsk to recreational facilities.” According to the General Staff, the Russians are taking away people who have Russian passports. Priority is given to those who have already received Russian citizenship in the first months after the Russian army occupied this part of Ukraine last year at the turn of winter and spring.

The exiled mayor of occupied Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, wrote on the Telegram network that the evacuation is too fast and that long queues are forming at the Chonhar checkpoint on the main road from Melitopol to Crimea.

The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, was seized by Russia not long after the start of the invasion of Ukraine by its troops in February of last year. Grossi last visited the power plant in March, when he tried to secure an agreement on the safe operation of the power plant through talks with both sides of the conflict. He also repeatedly warned of the dangers of military operations near the plant.