IAEA Inspection Team Arrives in Ukraine... "Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Inspection from the 31st"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection team dispatched to check the safety issues of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine has arrived in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. They are scheduled to conduct inspections of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant over approximately four days. However, it remains uncertain to what extent the Russian forces occupying the Zaporizhzhia plant will guarantee and cooperate with the inspection activities.

According to the Associated Press (AP) on the 29th (local time), Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, led a support team of 13 neutral-nationality experts for the Zaporizhzhia plant inspection and arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine. They plan to begin the inspection on the 31st upon arrival at the Zaporizhzhia plant and review the safety issues of the plant over four days until the 3rd of next month.

The inspection team is expected to examine the working environment of the nuclear power plant control room personnel and verify that nuclear materials are being used solely for peaceful purposes. Since early March, the Zaporizhzhia plant has been occupied by Russian forces, and the existing Ukrainian nuclear power operator Energoatom employees have reportedly continued plant operations while held captive by the Russian military.

So far, no increase in radiation levels has been detected at the Zaporizhzhia plant, but there is no detailed information about the extent of facility damage or risks during the ongoing war. In particular, the IAEA is concerned about various safety issues due to ongoing clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces around the Zaporizhzhia plant and Russia's forced replacement of the power grid.

Experts note that it is extremely rare for an IAEA inspection team to be dispatched during wartime, and since it is uncertain how much the Russian forces will cooperate with the inspection activities, it is expected that resolving the safety issues of the Zaporizhzhia plant will require at least several weeks.

Morgan D. Livi, a former IAEA official, told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), "This inspection is incomparable to others," adding, "This inspection is taking place under the most serious circumstances since the inspection following the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also stated, "Without exaggeration, this mission will be the most challenging in IAEA history."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.