IAEA experts discovered explosives at the Zaporozhye power plant
Representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have discovered anti-personnel mines on the territory of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. This is stated in a statement issued by IAEA Director General Raphael Mariano Grossi, Ukrinform reports.
During a visit on 23 July, the IAEA team detected several mines in the buffer zone between the site's inner and outer perimeter barriers, Grossi said. The experts reported that the mines are located in an area to which the station's staff has no access.
"As we have already reported, the IAEA was aware of the location of mines outside the perimeter of the site as well as in some places inside the site. Our team discussed this discovery with the station management and was told that this is a military decision and in an area controlled by the military," Grossi said.
In recent weeks, IAEA experts have conducted regular inspections and tours of the territory of the Zaporozhye NPP, but have not seen any military installations. In the meantime, they are seeking access to the roofs of reactors and machine rooms, including power units No. 3 and No. 4, "which are of particular interest," Grossi said.
The IAEA team also heard several explosions some distance from the station, the report added.
IAEA experts continue to closely monitor the situation regarding the availability of cooling water for the plant's six reactors after the Kakhovka dam explosion, the Director General added. He estimates that the water supply remains relatively stable, with the water level dropping by about 1 centimetre per day due to use and evaporation, so it will take several months.
