MOSCOW, November 29. /TASS/. Russia’s environmental and nuclear watchdog (Rostekhnadzor) sees the situation around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant as tense, but stable and it is working with IAEA representatives there, the watchdog’s chief, Alexander Trembitsky said on Tuesday.
"You know what is going on at the Zaporozhye nuclear plant. There is already an operating organization there, and there is a presidential decree and a government resolution. Rostekhnadzor’s representatives are present there and are working with their colleagues. Now we are establishing relations and cooperation with the four IAEA representatives who are present there," he said at a meeting with Russian senators.
He described the situation at the ZNPP as tense, but stable and added that he had a meeting with IAEA and Rosatom chiefs last week.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said last week that the organization is continuing consultations with Russian and Ukrainian representatives on the issue of the establishment of a security zone around the Zaporozhye plant and that some progress has been achieved.
The Russian defense ministry said earlier that after a two-month pause Ukrainian troops had resumed shelling attacks on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. At least 25 shells were fired at the plant on November 19-20 alone. One of the shells hit the roof of special building No2, which holds nuclear fuels.
Russia took control of the Zaporozhye NPP, the biggest operating nuclear plant in Europe, on February 28.