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Published: 10:03, September 01, 2022 | Updated: 23:19, September 01, 2022
UN inspectors arrive at Ukraine nuclear plant
By Reuters
Published:10:03, September 01, 2022 Updated:23:19, September 01, 2022 By Reuters

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi speaks to media in Zaporizhzhia on Sept 1, 2022, as UN inspectors prepare to head to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. (GENYA SAVILOV / AFP)

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine - A team of UN experts arrived at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia atomic plant complex on Thursday to assess the risk of a radiation disaster after being delayed several hours by shelling near the site.

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of trying to sabotage the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency to the plant in southern central Ukraine, which is controlled by Russian forces but operated by Ukrainian staff.

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of trying to sabotage the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the plant in southern central Ukraine, which is controlled by Russian forces but operated by Ukrainian staff

Conditions at the nuclear plant, Europe's largest, have been unraveling for weeks, with Moscow and Kiev regularly trading blame for shelling in the vicinity and fueling fears of a Chornobyl-style radiation disaster.

A Reuters reporter saw the IAEA team arrive in a large convoy with a heavy presence of Russian soldiers nearby. A Ukrainian source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters the mission "may turn out to be shorter than was planned".

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was doing everything to ensure that the plant could operate safely, and for the IAEA inspectors to be able to complete their tasks.

"In the event of further attempts by Kiev to disrupt their work with shelling or sabotage, the entire responsibility for the consequences will fall entirely on the Zelensky regime and its handlers and their "support group" in the West," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Earlier, Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom said Russian shelling had forced the shutdown of one of only two operating reactors at the site, while Moscow said it had thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to seize the plant. 

A Reuters reporter in the nearby Russian-controlled town of Enerhodar said a residential building was struck by shelling, forcing people to take cover in a basement. It was not possible to establish who had fired.

Body armor

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters early on Thursday in the city of Zaporizhzhia, 55 km (34 miles) from the plant, he was aware of "increased military activity in the area" but would press ahead with the plan to visit the facility and meet staff.

The IAEA inspectors, wearing body armor and travelling in white, armoured land cruisers with UN markings on their sides, had been held at the first check point outside the city following the shelling reports.

Moscow accused Ukrainian forces of trying to seize the plant hours before the IAEA team was due to arrive.

READ MORE: Russia: Zaporizhzhia recovers from Ukraine-claimed power-off

Russia's defense ministry said up to 60 Ukrainian troops had crossed the Dnipro river, which divides territory held by the two sides, in boats at 6:00 am local time (0300 GMT), in what it said was a "provocation" aimed at disrupting the IAEA visit. 

The ministry said "measures had been taken" to destroy the opposing troops, including use of military aviation.

Reuters journalists who followed the IAEA convoy before being ordered to turn back due to the dangerous conditions said that while they were in the city of Zaporizhzhia during the night, they had seen flashes of explosions in the sky.

They could not verify who was responsible.



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