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There is no stockpile of plutonium, enriched uranium in Ukraine, watchdog claims

Previously, IAEA Director General claimed that some 30 tonnes of plutonium and 40 tonnes of enriched uranium are stored at Zaporozhye nuclear power plant

KIEV, May 27. /TASS/. The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine denies presence of stockpiles of plutonium and enriched uranium that could be used to make nuclear weapons in the country in general and at Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in particular, says the open address of acting Inspectorate head Oleg Korikov to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"The Inspectorate categorically debunks information about alleged presence of stockpiles of plutonium and enriched uranium that could be used to produce nuclear weapons […] at Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and in Ukraine in general," says the address, published on the agency’s website Friday.

The agency accused the IAEA of inaction and ambiguous position.

"Neither plutonium nor uranium that could be used for military goals was stored at Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Moreover, it is technically and politically impossible for Ukraine to produce even few grams of weapon plutonium or uranium due to lack of technology and because of political ban on obtaining it," the address says. "Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, just like all other Ukrainian NPPs, uses nuclear fuel only in fuel rods with 5% enrichment that could not be used to produce nuclear weapons."

Previously, IAEA Director General claimed that some 30 tonnes of plutonium and 40 tonnes of enriched uranium are stored at Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the IAEA stays in contact with Moscow and Kiev regarding organization of a trip of Agency representatives to the power plant, currently under Russian Armed Forces’ control.