Ukraine war: questions, tensions swirl as UN mission heads to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
- UN nuclear inspectors set off from Kyiv for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Wednesday, with the mission expected to start surveying on Thursday
- IAEA hoped to set up a permanent mission at the plant, but it is unclear if Russia will allow that. The US urged for a complete shutdown of the plant
Ukraine on Wednesday accused Russian forces of firing on a town by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
“The Russian army is shelling Energodar,” said Evhen Yevtushenko, head of Nikopol district military administration, which is located on the northern bank of the Dnipro River.
The IAEA mission, headed by the organisation’s chief Rafael Grossi, intends to inspect the Zaporizhzhia plant after its territory was repeatedly shelled over the last month, with Ukraine and Russia trading blame over the attacks
Russian-installed officials in the area suggested the visit might last only one day, while IAEA and Ukrainian officials suggested it would last longer.
“We are now finally moving after six months of strenuous efforts,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters before the convoy set off, adding that the mission planned to spend “a few days” at the site.
