12 Feb, 20:49Updated at: 21:05

IAEA rotation at Zaporozhye plant cancelled due to intense military activity — statement

It was completely unacceptable, the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi Sergei Karpukhin/TASS

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi

© Sergei Karpukhin/TASS

BERLIN, February 12. /TASS/. Wednesday’s rotation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors stationed at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was cancelled due to "intense military activity," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement.

"Today’s scheduled rotation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team currently based at Ukraine’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was cancelled as a result of intense military activity in the region," the statement reads.

"Despite written assurances received from both sides that the planned rotation could take place safely, the situation proved to be too dangerous for the teams to continue and the mission was aborted," Grossi added, as cited by the agency’s press service.

The disruption of the rotation of the IAEA experts stationed at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant was completely unacceptable, Grossi stated.

"I deeply regret today’s cancellation of the carefully prepared and agreed rotation of our staff, who are carrying out vital work in very challenging circumstances to help prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict. It is completely unacceptable that the safety of our staff is jeopardized in this way," he pointed out, as cited by the agency’s press service.

The IAEA is in consultation with both Moscow and Kiev to ensure the safety of its inspectors stationed at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, Grossi added.

"As a result of these extremely concerning events, I am in active consultation with both sides to guarantee the safety of our teams and to secure the continued presence of the IAEA at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant to enable our staff to continue their indispensable mission, helping to maintain nuclear safety and security," he said, as cited by the IAEA press service.

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