VIENNA, September 22 – RIA Novosti. After the meeting of the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Great Britain on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, a number of Western countries emerged to support the IAEA’s permanent presence at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. , Ukraine and the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, senior officials of the United States, as well as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, and Rafael Grossi, head of the agency.

“There is serious concern in Ukraine about threats to the safety and security of nuclear facilities for peaceful purposes and their personnel, which significantly increases the risk of nuclear accidents,” the statement published on the websites of the foreign ministries of the said countries said.

“We welcome the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission in Zaporozhye (ISAMZ) and express our gratitude to the Director-General and his team for their courage and determination in fulfilling this important task. Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to support Ukraine and, where necessary, It stands ready to support the objectives of the IAEA mission in the area of ​​nuclear safety, protection and safeguards.

Zaporozhye NPP is located on the left bank of the Dnieper near Energodar. This is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in terms of number of units and installed capacity. It has been under the protection of the Russian army since March. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the Russian army’s rationale for protecting the power plant in terms of preventing leaks of nuclear and radioactive materials. The Ukrainian army continues to regularly bomb Energodar, the surrounding villages and the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant adjacent to the city.

In early September, an IAEA mission led by Director General Rafael Grossi arrived at ZNPP. The head of the Rosatom delegation and employees of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant led the IAEA delegation on its territory, showing parts of the station damaged during the shelling of Ukrainian troops. Two IAEA employees remained at ZNPP permanently. As a result of the mission’s visit, the IAEA published a report in which it confirmed the fact that the ZNPP was bombed.