Zelensky accused Russia of manipulating the IAEA visit to the Zaporizhia plant

First modification: 09/02/2022 – 16:48

After the International Atomic Energy Agency gained access to the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, the focus of the war in Ukraine in recent weeks, President Volodimir Zelensky spoke out against the handling of Russian troops, whom he accused of control the visit. The president also criticized the entity’s director for not demanding the demilitarization of the plant, which has become spoils of war.

In a speech published on the night of Thursday, September 1, the Ukrainian head of state stressed that the abandonment of the Russian armed men from the Zaporizhia facilities is “key” and is the “goal of Ukrainian and international efforts.”

In this sense, Zelenski pointed against the actions of the IAEA director, Rafael Grossi. “The bad thing is that we still haven’t heard the proper calls from the IAEA, despite what we talked about at our meeting in kyiv,” he lashed out. He also added that the return of local workers was not requested, another agreed point.

However, the leader hoped that the group of experts can draw “positive and objective conclusions” from this incursion into the Ukrainian plant.

While he underlined the efficiency that kyiv has shown during the last three decades in nuclear management: “They never had any claim regarding the activities of any of the facilities until Russia invaded and brought its madness,” said the Ukrainian president.

Within his discomfort, Zelenski also blamed the Argentine official for not contributing to the Ukrainian press being able to access the tour.

“When we met with Mr. Grossi and the members of the mission in kyiv, we agreed that the mission would be accompanied by journalists from Ukrainian and international media,” he explained, claiming that they wanted “the world to see the truth.”

Regarding this, the president denounced that Russia hid the real state of the facilities during the visit, something that will make it difficult for the IAEA to issue an impartial report on the real state of the plant.

Zelenski accused that the troops did not allow him to enter the international media that are not “Russian propagandists”.

Energoatom accuses Russia of hindering the visit

For its part, the Ukrainian state-owned company Energoatom explained that the IAEA mission was unable to enter the crisis center and that mobile and Internet communications were blocked.

The company stated that the Russian Administration staged a “planned show” regarding the arrival of the delegation.

“The occupants lie, distort the facts and the evidence that testifies to their bombing of the plant, as well as the consequences of the damage to the plant’s infrastructure,” they stressed.

Grossi confirmed yesterday that “the physical integrity of the plant has been violated several times” and that there will be a group of experts who will continue their stay in Zaporizhia.

Despite the fact that Energoatom said there would be five people and the pro-Russian leader of Energodar maintained that there were eight, in the end there would only be two, the RIA agency reported.

With EFE and Reuters