A team of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in the Ukrainian-held city of Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine on Wednesday en route to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which has been under Russian control since March.
The city of Zaporizhzhia is about 34 miles away from the plant, which is located in the city of Enerhodar. The inspectors are spending Wednesday night in Zaporizhzhia and are expected to travel to the ZNPP on Thursday for a long-awaited visit.
The ZNPP has been the site of frequent shelling, raising fears of a potential nuclear disaster. Ukraine accused Russia of attacking the plant, but Moscow has little reason to shell a facility that it controls. Russian troops are stationed at the ZNPP, and Moscow has rejected calls to demilitarize the area.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, who is traveling with the team, said that the initial inspection could only take “a few days” but that he hopes to establish a permanent presence at the base.
“If we are able to establish a permanent presence, or a continued presence, then it’s going to be prolonged. But this first segment is going to take a few days,” Grossi said.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s envoy to Vienna, said that Moscow welcomes the IAEA’s plans to establish a permanent presence at the ZNPP. Russian officials have been urging the IAEA to send a mission to the plant, saying that the inspectors will be able to see that Ukraine has been the party attacking the area.
A “permanent” presence at the plant will stop Ukrainian and Western Media lies.
This will not suit Ukraine or US so it is unlikely to happen.
Not necessarily. Rafael Grossi has shown (viz., Iran) himself as eager as any home-grown neocon to obfuscate, delay, and bend the facts for Washington.
seems as if these guys have been tracked the entire way =
“IAEA inspectors will go to ukraine reactor”
“IAEA guys have left the building”
“IAEA guys are on their way!”
“inspectors are now in ukraine next stop the power plant”
“they have stopped at McDonalds for lunch before they get started”
That’s because if they’re passing through Ukraine territory to get there – they might not make it. Then Ukraine blames Russia for their deaths. If they had any brains, they should have come in via Russia – but politically for the UN, that’s impossible. So in essence the IAEA and the UN are sacrificing these guys to get another propaganda ploy against Russia.
The Russian military are in control of the plant but the plant is apparently still run by Ukrainian nuclear engineers.
We also know that somebody is shelling it. Time to shut it down get it as cold as possible
By the way, this report doesn’t mention the two sabotage units Ukraine sent to the plant to try to derail the inspection. Those units got their butts handed to them by the Russian, while the so-called “Kherson offensive” has been a disaster for Ukraine.
Ukraine launches raid near Zaporozhye nuclear plant – Russia
https://www.rt.com/russia/561943-ukrainian-troops-seize-zaporozhye-nuclear-plant/
Moon of Alabama covers this nicely today:
Ukraine Tries To Prevent IAEA Inspection Of The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/09/ukraine-tries-to-prevent-iaea-inspection-of-the-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant.html#more
This post from someone at Moon of Alabama lays the blame on Mi6 for the idiocy of this mission.
It’s done. From the IAEA Twitter account:
IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency @iaeaorg
4h
IAEA to maintain continued presence at #Ukraine’s #Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.
Quote Tweet
Rafael MarianoGrossi @rafaelmgrossi
4h
I am finishing my first visit to #Ukraine’s #Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.
@IAEAorg is here to stay and will maintain a continued presence at #ZNPP.
From ASB Mililtary News via MoA post…