A mission of nuclear inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) set off from the central-Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Reuters says, despite reported intense Russian shelling of the plant, its satellite city of Enerhodar, and the area.
Russia shells occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, its satellite city before the IAEA inspection
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the mission was pressing ahead with its plan to visit the facility and meet its staff,
“There has been an increased military activity in the area. Having come so far, we are not stopping,” he said according to Reuters.
Update:
The IAEA mission stopped 20 kilometers away from the front line, waiting for the fighting to subside ahead of them.
IAEA mission stopped at checkpoint in Novooleksandrivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast some 20 km into Ukraine-controlled territory – Interfax Ukraine's source
"You can hear incoming here but at the distance," the source said, "we are waiting when it will be safe"https://t.co/hW2SEsSF79
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) September 1, 2022
Update 14:30:
The IAEA mission has already passed into the “gray” zone heading Enerhodar – during the mission’s passage, Russian small arms fire was heard, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
Meanwhile, Russia’s state-funded RIA Novosti says that the mission has already arrived at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1565302181166780419
Update 18:30:
“As of 18:00 on September 1, 2022, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, left the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Most members of the delegation left the station with him,” Energoatom reported.
Five representatives of the IAEA mission remained at the nuclear plant to continue their further work at the station.
