IAEA Receives Additional Access to ZNPP Facilities, No Indications of Mines Observed
14:31 07.07.2023 (Updated: 17:07 07.07.2023)
© Sputnik . Taisia Vorontsova
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Recently, Kyrylo Budanov, chief of Ukraine's intelligence, claimed that Russia was preparing an act of "nuclear terrorism" by mining the Zaporozhye NPP.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Friday that it's experts have received additional access to the facilities of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) and did not observe any indications of explosives or mines so far.
"International Atomic Energy Agency experts have received additional access at the site of Ukraine’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, without – so far – observing any visible indications of mines or explosives, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today," the IAEA said in a statement.
Grossi said that the IAEA experts need more access to ZNPP facilities to continue searching for any indications of mines or explosives.
"So far, they have not seen any mines or explosives. But they still need more access, including to the rooftops of reactor units 3 and 4 and parts of the turbine halls. I remain hopeful that this access will be granted soon. I will continue to report about developments in this regard," Grossi said, as quoted by the IAEA’s statement.
Earlier, Ukraine's intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov claimed that Russia mined the NPP to carry out an act of "nuclear terrorism".
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in his turn, said there is a huge threat of a sabotage at the ZNPP from Kiev and its consequences may be catastrophic.
"The situation is quite tense. The threat of sabotage from the Kiev regime is really huge. Sabotage, which can be catastrophic in its consequences," Peskov told reporters.
He also stated that Kiev has already demonstrated that it has no limits when it blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP).
"The Kiev regime has repeatedly demonstrated its readiness to have no limits. Most recently, we saw this in the form of the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, also with horrific consequences. Therefore, of course, all measures are being taken to oppose this," the spokesman outlined.
