“The physical integrity of the plant has been repeatedly violated,” he told media on his return to kyiv-controlled territory with part of the IAEA mission.
“We have no elements to assess this” but “it is something that cannot continue to happen”, he added.
Several members of the mission will stay until “Sunday or Monday” to study in depth the situation at this power station, the largest in Europe and whose site has been bombed several times raising fears of a nuclear disaster, said Mr. .Magnified. “We have a lot of work here to analyze some technical aspects.”
The IAEA also intends to “establish a continuous presence” at the plant beyond this date, he said without further details.
Arrived at the plant earlier in the day from the city of Zaporijjia, about 120 kilometers by road, Mr. Grossi said he saw “a lot of things” during “four or five hours” spent there.
“We were able to visit the whole site. I was in the units (of reactors, editor’s note), I saw the emergency system and other parts, the control rooms”, he listed everything by praising the Ukrainian personnel who have continued to work at the plant since its occupation in March by the Russian army.
“Of course they are in a difficult situation but they have an incredible degree of professionalism,” argued Mr Grossi.
He finally described the “pretty difficult situation” of his team who heard heavy fire during their trip to the plant and crossing the front line.
“There were times when shooting was evident, heavy machine guns, artillery, mortars two or three times, we were very worried,” acknowledged Rafael Grossi.