“Even though the plant’s six reactors are now in cold shutdown, with the final unit shifting into that status two days ago following the IAEA’s recommendation, the potential dangers of a major nuclear accident are very real,” Grossi told the UN Security Council.
The situation is "dangerously close to a nuclear accident," Grossi warned.
Attacks around the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) have to stop immediately as nuclear safety is already compromised, the IAEA director stressed.
“These reckless attacks must cease immediately. Though, fortunately, they have not led to a radiological incident this time, they significantly increase the risk at Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, where nuclear safety is already compromised,” Grossi said.
The recent attacks on the nuclear power plant earlier this month repeatedly violated one of the five principles he outlined last year to avert a nuclear disaster amid the Ukraine conflict.
"Nevertheless, Madame President, over the past ten days, the first of these principles has been violated repeatedly in what marks a step-change increase in risk to nuclear safety and security at Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant," Grossi emphasized.
"We must do everything in our power today to minimize the risk of an accident," he stated.
There are no heavy weapons at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, Grossi confirmed.
“There is no heavy weaponry there,” the IAEA director told reporters.
The director general also said that he intends to travel to Ukraine and Russia soon.
"Yes, we need to [go to] Ukraine and Russia, as I have been doing since the beginning," Grossi said in response to a question whether he intends to travel to Ukraine soon.
The IAEA must keep channels of communication open with Russia and Ukraine, Grossi added.
On April 7, Ukraine's kamikaze drones attacked the territory of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant right after an inspection carried out by IAEA experts, the plant's press service said. The IAEA confirmed minor damage to the sixth power unit of the nuclear power plant, adding that nuclear safety had not been compromised. The attack also left three workers injured, with one of them sustaining serious injuries, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said.