Ukraine: nuclear plant is surrounded by landmines, UN watchdog warns
- The UN said its team saw the anti-personnel mines at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Sunday in an area off-limits to Ukrainian staff
- The IAEA said having such explosives on the site is inconsistent with safety standards and guidance and ‘creates additional psychological pressure on staff’
“Having such explosives on the site is inconsistent with the IAEA safety standards and nuclear security guidance and creates additional psychological pressure on plant staff,” Rafael Mariano Grossi, the agency’s director general, said in a statement late Monday.
However, any detonation of the mines, which were facing away from the plant and located between its internal and external perimeter barriers and facing away from the plant, “should not affect the site’s nuclear safety and security systems,” the statement said.
The IAEA has repeatedly expressed concern that the war could cause a potential radiation leak from the facility, which is one of world’s 10 biggest nuclear power stations. The plant’s six reactors have been shut down for months, but it still needs power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features.
Ukraine’s military intelligence said last month without providing evidence that Russia is planning a “large-scale provocation” at the nuclear power plant in the southeast of the country and had placed suspected explosives on the roof. Russia, in turn, has alleged without offering evidence that Ukraine was planning a false flag attack involving radioactive materials.