Allegations of fighting along the UN’s road to the nuclear power plant – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

Before departure this morning, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed that there has been increased military activity in the Enerhodar area. But he tells Reuters that the inspectors will still visit the plant and staff at the nuclear power plant today. UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi tells Reuters that the inspectors are maintaining their plan to visit the plant in Zaporizhzhya today. Photo: ANNA VOITENKO / Reuters – We have a very important mission to carry out, says IAEA chief Rafael Grossi before getting into the car. It is expected that the nuclear inspectors will arrive at 1pm. Fighting in and around the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya has raised fears of a possible nuclear accident. According to Ukraine’s Energoatom, which is the operator, unit five is now shut down due to bombing nearby. Energoatom states that reactor number 6 is still connected to Ukraine’s energy system, and supplies the power plant with the necessary electricity. The nuclear power plant has been controlled by Russian forces since the beginning of March, but it is still operated by Ukrainian technicians. Both sides accuse each other of being behind the attacks. Also today there are reports of combat actions. – Russian forces have shelled Enerhodar with artillery and used automatic weapons and rockets, writes mayor Dmytro Orlov on Telegram, and attaches photos of destroyed buildings with clouds of smoke above. – For the workers and residents of my hometown, this visit is very important, says Mayor Orlov to news. The Ukrainian military has requested that Russia stop bombarding the road the observers will use to the power plant, writes the news agency Afp. Russian forces took over control of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in March. Photo: AP The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that this morning Ukrainian forces tried to take over the nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. According to the statement, reproduced by Reuters, 60 Ukrainian soldiers crossed the Dnipro river at 6am. This was a provocation aimed at interrupting the planned visit of the IAEA inspectors, claims the Russian Defense Ministry. Steps were taken to destroy the forces, including the use of military aircraft, it said. No independent sources have confirmed the information. The six reactors in what is abbreviated as ZAES – Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant – are located on the south side of a giant water reservoir in the Dnipro River. Normally, the power plant accounts for a fifth of Ukraine’s electricity production.



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