Russia lying about obstructing IAEA mission at ZNPP – Energoatom

IRYNA BALACHUK – FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2022, 09:11

Russian occupying forces are lying, manipulating [information] and distorting the real state of affairs at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). In addition, Russia is only sharing information regarding the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visit that it finds favourable.

Source: Energoatom, a Ukrainian state enterprise operating nuclear power stations in Ukraine, on Telegram

Quote from Energoatom: "The Russian occupiers are doing everything they can to prevent the International Atomic Energy Agency from assessing the real state of affairs at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. They are spreading manipulative and false information about [the IAEA] visit."

Details: In particular, Energoatom reiterated that the majority of "global media" that were allowed to visit the ZNPP on 1 September were, in fact, Russian propagandists. Meanwhile, the Russians denied access to the power plant to buses carrying Ukrainian and foreign journalists.

In addition, the Russian occupiers are lying about the attacks on the ZNPP and the damage to its facilities; as expected, they are blaming any damage and attacks on the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Energoatom added that the Russians told the IAEA mission that the heavy trucks that they have deployed in the same workshops as the ZNPP power units, in violation of all fire safety regulations, are part of the "chemical defence forces".

Moreover, the Russians prevented the IAEA mission from visiting the ZNPP crisis response centre, as the Russian soldiers deployed at the ZNPP were hiding there.

Energoatom also notes that the Russians presented the IAEA with a pre-prepared, orchestrated "performance" in which the residents of Enerhodar [the ZNPP’s satellite city - ed.] are complaining about the shelling allegedly carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, the Russians have deliberately blocked mobile and internet communications in Enerhodar in order to prevent the locals from sharing photos and videos from the ZNPP and its satellite city.

"We appreciate that it will be difficult for the IAEA to produce an impartial assessment on the situation at the ZNPP under these conditions. At the same time, we stress that it will be impossible to implement all of the mission’s recommendations regarding the restoration of nuclear and radiation safety [at the ZNPP] while it is controlled by the Russian occupying forces," Energoatom concluded.

Background: 

• It took a long time to arrange the IAEA mission’s visit to the ZNPP because the Russian occupiers controlling the station had at first refused to issue special passes to the IAEA team. The team of 14 experts eventually arrived at the ZNPP on 1 September; the majority of them left after several hours, leaving five inspectors behind.
• President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that despite a preliminary agreement with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, journalists were not allowed to accompany the IAEA mission to the ZNPP. Only Russian propaganda media were allowed to be present.

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