Ukraine, explosions in Zaporizhzhia, IAEA: “You play with fire, stop immediately”

at least a dozen powerful explosions were recorded between last night and today in the area of ​​the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. This was reported by the experts of the IAEA – the International Atomic Energy Agency – who are located close to the site. The explosions are due to “alleged attacks”, according to a tweet from the Agency. “Some buildings, systems and equipment on site have been damaged, but none critically to nuclear safety so far,” they added.

“The news from our team yesterday and this morning is extremely worrying – explains the agency in a statement – ​​there have been explosions at the site of this important nuclear power plant, which is totally unacceptable: whoever is behind him must stop immediately. is playing with fire”. The attacks – says the IAEA – come after a period of relative calm “and underline the urgent need for measures to help prevent a nuclear accident.

Agency experts said the explosions were at least a dozena, some of which were not only heard but also seen: “Damage has been recorded to some buildings, systems and equipment at the Zaporizhzhia site, but none of them have so far challenged nuclear safety. There have been no reports from IAEA experts are in contact close with site management and will continue to assess and report the situation.

IAEA Director General Raphael Grossi renewed his urgent appeal to both sides of the conflict to reach an agreement and implement as soon as possible a nuclear safety and protection zone around the nuclear power plant. to establish that the site area will be preserved from bombing, but no agreement has been reached so far.

Exchange of accusations between Russia and Ukraine

The Ukrainian atomic agency, Energoatom, said: “The occupiers fired at the power plant all morning; today, after numerous Russian bombings, it was recorded at least 12 damage on the Zaporizhzhya site: to the communication viaducts, chemical desalinated water storage tanks, steam generator purge system and auxiliary systems of one of the two diesel, from the central station of the station infrastructure”.

For his part, the spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, Igor Konashenkov, pointed the finger at Kiev: “Ukrainian armed forces bombed the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant twice. A total of 14 missiles were fired at the plant, two of which hit a power line. The shelling came from the area of ​​​​the village of Marganets in the Dnepropetrovsk region, controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Retaliatory fire by Russian artillery units suppressed the enemy’s firearms. The radiation situation in the nuclear power plant area remains normal.”