The International Atomic Energy Agency’s mission to inspect the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has set off, but there are reports this morning of shelling around Enerhodar, where the plant is located.
The IAEA team is due to begin an inspection of the plant this morning following rising concerns over the safety and stability of the facility, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly blamed each other for shelling in the area and on Thursday there were more reports of shelling in the region.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the mission was aware of “increased military activity in the area” but was pressing ahead with its plan to visit the facility and meet personnel there, Reuters reported.
Russian news agency Interfax reported that its forces had fired on a group of Ukrainian troops which had landed in the Enerhodar region on Thursday morning.
Alexander Volga, head of the provisional administration of the city (a Russian-installed official), told Interfax that, “there was a landing of Ukrainian troops, they are currently immobilized, lying in a summer cottage. Our aviation is working on them. Scouts have figured out their location, at the moment they are being hit by fire. I think that everything will be finished in the near future, and we will win.”
Interfax repeated Russian claims that Enerhodar was “subjected to a massive artillery strike from the Armed Forces of Ukraine” this morning in which it said apartment buildings and a kindergarten were hit.
Ukraine has not responded to those claims, but Oleksandr Starukh, the Ukrainian head of the Zaporizhzhia region, said on Telegram Thursday that Russian forces were shelling the pre-agreed route the IAEA team are due to take to the nuclear power plant.
“The UN advance team cannot continue the movement due to security reasons. Ukraine continues to make efforts to organize safe access of the international IAEA mission to the ZNPP. We demand that the Russian Federation stop the provocations and grant the IAEA unhindered access to the Ukrainian nuclear facility,” he said.
— Holly Ellyatt
Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/01/russia-tries-to-restore-supply-lines-in-southern-ukraine-north-korea-could-send-workers-to-rebuild-the-donbas.html
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