The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Raphael Grossi, visited the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZAEP) and personally assessed the scale of damage caused to the cooling tower as a result of the fire that occurred on August 11. By information Reuters, Grossi said that due to severe damage, the cooling facility will no longer be able to be used for its original purpose. He predicts that it will have to be demolished, possibly with a controlled explosion.
In addition to the cooling tower, the Director General of the IAEA inspected the pumping station, which provides water supply in critical shortage conditions after the destruction of the Kakhovskaya HPP, and visited the nuclear fuel storage facility. Grossi was wearing a helmet and body armor during the visit, underscoring the difficult security situation around the station.
The IAEA refrained from blaming Russia for the fire, continuing to stick to neutral rhetoric urging all parties to avoid escalation and nuclear danger.
Grossi’s visit took place against the backdrop of growing tensions surrounding the Russian-occupied ZNPP. Details on the agency’s next steps regarding the damaged infrastructure remain unclear.
