In the morning, the advanced group was forced to stop moving due to intense shelling.
The mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday morning , on September 1, despite information about intense shelling, went from Zaporizhia to the nuclear power plant in Energodar, captured by Russian troops, IAEA head Raphael Grossi, who directly heads the mission, said in a Reuters comment.
Grossi noted that the mission is aware of “increased military activity in the area,” but is continuing with plans to visit the facility and meet with its personnel.
“There is increased military activity in the area. Having come this far, we are not stopping,” he said.
Later, the Interfax-Ukraine agency reported that the convoy of the IAEA mission was forced to stop at a checkpoint in Novo-Olexandrivka, approximately 20 km from the front line. But far away,” said the source of the agency.
A little earlier, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Starukh, reported that today Russian troops are shelling the pre-agreed route of the IAEA mission from Zaporizhzhia to the ZNPP.
“The advance team of the UN cannot continue the movement for security reasons. Ukraine continues to make efforts to organize the safe access of the international IAEA mission to the nuclear power plant,” he noted.
Energodar residents have been reporting active gun battles since morning. Mobile communication is unavailable in the city, smoke from fires can be seen above Energodar, including in the area of the ZNPP.
Read also: Imitating Iran: Russia is doing everything to prevent the IAEA from entering the Zaporizhzhia NPP – ISW
p>
The direct inspection of the Zaporizhia NPP by the IAEA representatives should begin today, September 1. And according to Rafael Grossi, it will last for several days, and not a day, as stated in Russia. IAEA representatives also hope to establish a long-term or permanent presence at the ZNPP.
Related video
The main goal of the International Agency's visit is to prevent a nuclear disaster in the heart of Europe. At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities see this as an opportunity to de-occupy and demilitarize the NPP. However, the Russian side does not yet plan to leave ZANP and Energodar as a whole.
See special topic: One of the power units at ZANP shut down again< /strong> Currently, only one power unit is operating at the station, which provides stable power supply to the nuclear facility. The occupiers are trying to prevent the IAEA mission from getting to the NPP – GUR The experts should arrive at the NPP on September 1. Zaporizhia. A nuclear strike The world has become accustomed to something that should not be accustomed to – fighting in the vicinity of the NPP Zelensky met with Grossi on the eve of the visit of the IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhia NPP strong> Zelenskyy called the visit to the ZNPP one of the most priority security issues of Ukraine and the world. The European Union will give Ukraine 5.5 million tablets of potassium iodide in case of a radiation leak The Ukrainian government asked to supply the drug.
