Zelenskyy hits out over nuclear watchdog's visit to Zaporizhzhia plant
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hit out over the UN visit to Europe's largest nuclear power plant.
He's upset the nuclear watchdog inspecting the Zaporizhzhia facility, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has not yet called for the demilitarisation of the site, which has been occupied by Russian troops since early on in the six-month war.
Zelenskyy also scolded Russia for allegedly obstructing journalists from accompanying the IAEA on its visit to the plant.
"The key thing that should happen is the demilitarisation of the territory of the plant," said Zelenskyy. "This is exactly the goal of Ukrainian and international efforts. And it is bad that we have not yet heard the appropriate calls from the IAEA. Although we talked about it with Mr Grossi at our meeting in Kyiv. This was the key – the key! – security point of our agreements. It was clearly stated: demilitarisation and full control by Ukrainian nuclear specialists.
"When we met with (director general of the IAEA, Rafael) Grossi and members of the mission in Kyiv, we agreed that independent journalists [...] would accompany the mission for the world to see the truth and what is really happening.
"Unfortunately, this has not been done, although it was promised. Unfortunately, the occupiers did not let journalists on the territory but organised a crowd of their propagandists. Unfortunately, the representatives of the IAEA did not protect the representatives of the independent media."
The 14-member expert delegation from the IAEA arrived at Zaporizhzhia on Thursday after months of negotiations to get inside.
The plant has been occupied by Russian forces but is run by Ukrainian engineers.
Ukraine alleges Russia is using it as a shield to launch attacks,
Read more on euronews.com
