IAEA: Russia denies plans controlling Zaporozhye NPP

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) pointed out Sunday that Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom State Corporation director general, has assured that Russia had no plans of fully controlling Ukraine’s Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP).

"Ukraine has told IAEA: Russia plans to take full and permanent control of Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant under Rosatom management," the agency Tweeted.

The UN nuclear watchdog made clear that "Rosatom Director General in call with IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi denied such intention."

Likhachev denied that Rosatom "had taken operational control nor that it intended for the plant to be under Rosatom’s 'management system'."

#Russia has informed IAEA: Ukrainian staff carry out management and operation at #Zaporizhzhya and #Chornobyl power plants, while Russian experts provide “consultative assistance”.
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) March 12, 2022

Russian experts provide Ukrainian operating personnel consultative assistance

The Russian official confirmed that "work was being carried out to restore the lost power lines" of the NPP, "but in a way not to put at risk the existing supplies."

The Russian authorities had notified the IAEA on March 12, that the "management and operation of the Zaporozhskaya and Chernobyl NPPs is carried out by the Ukrainian operating personnel," noting that "A group of several Russian experts provides them consultative assistance."

The IAEA had said Ukraine notified the agency about losing control over the Chernobyl and the Zaporozhye NPPs.

The UN nuclear watchdog affirmed that no radioactive threat has been detected in this regard, as IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urged to guarantee the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

Kiev wanted to accuse Russia of creating radiation focus at Zaporozhye

Grossi noted on Thursday that Moscow and Kiev are "ready to work" with the IAEA to ensure nuclear safety.

The Director General met Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in separate meetings in Antalya, Turkey where talks between Kiev and Moscow were held in a bid to simmer down tensions as the Russian special military operation in Ukraine unfolds.

It is noteworthy that Russia's Defense Ministry had announced that Ukrainian ultra-nationalists had committed a serious provocation by bombing facilities that provide energy to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov had also pointed out that Kiev wanted to accuse Russia of creating a radiation focus at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.