MOSCOW, January 25 – RIA Novosti. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told the publication he hopes to visit Russia again in February. Policy.

In addition, the head of the agency announced a possible increase in the risk of a nuclear incident at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in case of intensification of hostilities and heavy bombardment of the station in the spring.

“There’s been a lot of talk about bigger and bigger maneuvers and conflicts in the early spring or late winter … this suggests that any increase in bombing and bombardment would certainly increase the likelihood of a nuclear event,” Grossi told the publication. .

Grossi reiterated the need to create a security zone around the ZNPP, adding that this would require the “political will” of both Ukraine and Russia. It calls on European Foreign Ministers to use and participate in communication channels with Kyiv and Moscow to convey the message of the importance of establishing a security zone and preventing a nuclear incident.

Zaporozhye NPP is located on the left bank of the Dnieper, near the town of Energodar. This is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe in terms of the number of units and installed capacity – the power plant has six power units with a capacity of 1 gigawatt each. It has been under the protection of the Russian army since March. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that this step is justified in order to prevent the leakage of nuclear and radioactive materials.

The Ukrainian army continues to regularly bombard Enerhodar and the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant adjacent to the city. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Kyiv regime was trying to create the appearance of a nuclear catastrophe threat by continuing to deliberately bomb the ZNPP. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly expressed the need to create a security zone around the ZNPP.