IAEA Will Have 'Continued Presence' at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Agency Chief Says

A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) led by its Director General Rafael Grossi arrived at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in south Ukraine on September 1 to assess the plant’s security amid ongoing fighting.

The IAEA announced the delegation’s arrival at the plant at around 3 pm, saying they would “conduct indispensable nuclear safety and security and safeguards activities.”

Speaking to media outside the plant, Grossi said the IAEA would be maintaining a “continued presence” at the plant. “We are not going anywhere. The IAEA is now there, it’s at the plant, and it’s not moving. It’s going to stay there. We are going to have a continued presence there at the plant,” Grossi said.

By 6 pm, Grossi and the majority of the delegation had left the plant, according to Energoatom, the state agency that operates Ukraine’s four nuclear power plants. Five members stayed and were expected to continue working at the plant until September 3, Energoatom said.

Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of carrying out damaging attacks at the plant, control of which Ukrainian forces have been aiming to reclaim, and of “methodically” destroying the nuclear plant’s infrastructure. Russia has rejected Ukraine’s allegations and in turn accused Ukrainian forces of repeatedly shelling the plant. Credit: Sergio Olmos via Storyful

Video transcript

RAFAEL GROSSI: We are not going anywhere. The IAEA is now there. It's at the plant, and it's not moving. It's going to stay there. We're going to have a continued presence there at the plant with some of my experts. And of course--

We are not going anywhere. The IAEA is now there. It's at the plant, and it's not moving. It's going to stay there. We're going to have a continued presence there at the plant with some of my experts. And of course--

We are not going anywhere. The IAEA is now there. It's at the plant, and it's not moving. It's going to stay there. We're going to have a continued presence there at the plant with some of my experts. And of course--

We are not going anywhere. The IAEA is now. It's at the plant, and it's not moving. It's going to stay there. We're going to have a continued presence there at the plant with some of my experts. And of course--