Grossi tells Ukraine nuclear workers: We’re here to support you

Rafael Mariano Grossi, who visited the plant on the second day of his mission to Ukraine, told workers: "We are here with you, we are ready to help and support in whatever way we can."

In a post on Twitter, he added that he had thanked them "for their endurance and resilience during these extremely difficult times" and said the staff "deserve full respect and admiration for keeping sites running in a safe and secure way amid conflict".

During the visit Grossi met Ukrainian government officials and staff to start the IAEA’s "technical assistance for safety and security of the country’s nuclear facilities", saying it was "vital to be on the ground to provide effective support to Ukraine in these extremely difficult times".

He held talks with Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, the head of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) Oleh Korikov, Energoatom CEO Petro Kotin and the director of the South Ukraine plant Igor Polovych.

They "reviewed concrete steps to immediately deliver urgent assistance to ensure nuclear facilities' safety & security", Grossi said.

That assistance includes sending IAEA experts to nuclear facilities and the shipment of vital safety and security supplies, as well as facilitating the conditions to enable the IAEA to "to continue carrying out safeguards activities in Ukraine, in line with its non-proliferation mandate".

He also said "cutting-edge monitoring and emergency equipment is essential for radiation protection - helping to keep people and the environment safe", posting a picture of some of the equipment delivered on Wednesday, adding that there would be "much more" to follow "very soon".

(Image: @rafaelmgrossi/Twitter)

Following the talks, the SNRIU said that Korikov had noted that there was no experience of operating nuclear power plants during a war, and called for secure zones around nuclear power plants and the removal of military equipment, with the transfer of operational control of all such sites to Ukraine and the IAEA.

Russian forces have been in control of Chernobyl and much of its surrounding area since 24 February, and have also now been in control of Zaporozhe for more than a month. Although both sites continue to be operated by their Ukrainian staff, Grossi has raised concerns about the pressures they are working under, as well as the lack of normal shift patterns.

Ukraine has four nuclear power plants with 15 reactors, eight of which have continued operating.