The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued a warning following a lethal incident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
A driver at the plant was reportedly killed in an attack carried out by Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom. An employee at the nuclear facility lost his life in the strike earlier today, as confirmed by Rosatom.
Describing the event as a “great tragedy,” the Russian agency emphasized that assaults on nuclear plants not only endanger lives but also threaten overall security. In response, the IAEA Director General stressed that any strikes near or on nuclear power plants could jeopardize nuclear safety and must be avoided.
The IAEA was informed by the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant about the drone strike that resulted in the driver’s death at the plant’s transport workshop. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterated the importance of safeguarding nuclear facilities and stated that the IAEA team on-site would investigate the incident and monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, Rosatom, which has been managing the plant since its capture by Russian forces, disclosed that an employee was killed in a strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The plant authorities mourned the loss, asserting that individuals working in the nuclear industry should not be targeted. They underscored that any attacks on the Zaporizhzhia NPP pose a significant risk to both individuals and security.
On March 4, 2022, Russian troops seized control of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. In a recent speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UN called for the withdrawal of Russian forces from the plant, emphasizing the ongoing occupation’s impact on Ukraine and the global community.
The Ambassador urged for sanctions on Russia’s nuclear energy sector, demanding the immediate return of the plant to Ukraine and its safety compliance with IAEA standards to end the nuclear crisis.
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