MOSCOW: UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi engaged in further discussions with Russian officials on Friday regarding safety concerns at two nuclear power plants impacted by the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
Grossi has previously raised alarms about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control, and the Kursk power plant, located near the area of Kyiv’s recent military activities.
Grossi met with Alexei Likhachev, the head of Russia’s Rosatom nuclear agency, in Kaliningrad. This meeting followed his visits to the Zaporizhzhia plant in southeastern Ukraine and the Kursk plant the previous week. Earlier in the week, he also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The situation remains very challenging,” Grossi said, according to Russian news agencies. He expressed concern about the Kursk plant, situated about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Ukrainian forces, but noted that both plants are currently operating stably. Grossi reiterated his call for both sides to avoid targeting nuclear facilities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of attempting to attack the Kursk plant, though no evidence has been provided. Likhachev stated that Russia expects a “proper response” from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
As Kyiv’s incursion into Kursk extends into its fourth week, with numerous border settlements claimed by Ukraine, Putin has indicated that Russian forces are gradually pushing back Ukrainian troops from the area. The Zaporizhzhia plant, which fell into Russian hands early in the conflict, remains a focal point of international concern.
