UN watchdog optimistic about Ukraine nuclear plant protection

On Monday (16 January), the head of the United Nations Nuclear Watchdog stated that he hoped for progress on a safe-zone deal surrounding the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine. However, he stressed that it was a difficult negotiation.

The largest Soviet-era plant in Europe was captured by Russian forces in March. This was just a few days after the invasion of Ukraine. In recent months, it has been repeatedly under attack raising concerns about a nuclear catastrophe.

During a visit to Ukraine, Rafael Grossi, the director general of IAEA, stated that "The situation surrounding the plant continues to be extremely, very dangerous. A nuclear accident, an incident with serious radiological consequences is not in anyone's best interest."

Russia dismissed the IAEA's visit to Russia and its power.

"The IAEA does not have the technical nor statutory capabilities to prevent a nuclear disaster in the event that nuclear power plants are attacked," Renat Karchaa (an adviser to the CEO Russian state energy organisation Rosenergoatom) told Russian state TASS news agency.

"Therefore, IAEA inspectors are ineffective at all nuclear power plant. This is because they are more politically motivated."

Grossi stated that he would like to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zilenskiy in Kyiv, but he acknowledged that the process of brokering a protective zone took longer than anticipated.

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He stated that no one would want to be in this zone if it was considered... a military advantage. "I am trying to convince everyone this is not true. It's not about preventing a nuclear accident."

Grossi made his sixth trip to Ukraine since February invasion. He was there to implement newly announced plans to have continuous presence of nuclear safety specialists at all Ukraine's nuclear facilities.

He visited the South Ukraine plant, located about 350km (220 miles) from Kyiv. He was also scheduled for visits to the plants at Chornobyl, Rivne and Rivne. This created a two-person IAEA team at each facility.

According to the IAEA, there is already a permanent presence at Zaporizhzhia of at least four experts. A two-member team is also expected to be present at Khmelnitsky.

Grossi previously stated that he would broker a deal before 2022. However, Grossi said last week, that talks with Moscow and Kyiv had become more difficult because they involved not only diplomats but also military officers.

Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of attacking the Zaporizhzhia facility.

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