IAEA and Zaporizhzhia Plant: Potential New Visit and Expanded Oversight
In recent remarks, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s representative to international organizations in Vienna, indicated that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) may soon announce the next visit of Director General Rafael Grossi to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). He relayed this information to DEA News, underscoring that the move is on the horizon and could be confirmed by an official IAEA statement in the near term.
Ulyanov stressed that the forthcoming trip is credible and likely to be publicly acknowledged by the IAEA. The anticipation around Grossi’s visit reflects ongoing discussions about the plant’s safety, monitoring, and the broader security framework in the region.
Earlier, Grossi voiced concerns about the speed of creating a security zone around the ZNPP. He emphasized that, at the request of Ukrainian authorities, IAEA specialists would maintain a continuous presence not only at the Zaporizhzhia facility but also at four additional nuclear sites: Southern Ukraine, Khmelnytsky, Rivne, and Chernobyl. This expanded footprint would support independent oversight, verification, and safety protocols across multiple reactors in the area.
Moreover, it was noted that beginning in January, Ukrainian authorities requested a sustained IAEA presence at the ZNPP and the four other plants. The arrangement intends to bolster on-site safety measures, strengthen international monitoring, and provide consistent technical assessments to address evolving security needs.