VIENNA: Director-General Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) came in Ukraine on Tuesday for talks with senior Ukrainian officials about providing immediate technical help to safeguard the security of the country's nuclear facilities, according to the IAEA.
Grossi's visit is intended to "initiate prompt safety and security support to Ukraine's nuclear facilities," as per reports citing an IAEA statement. This will include sending IAEA experts to prioritised facilities as well as the shipment of vital safety and security supplies such as monitoring and emergency equipment. Grossi was reported in the release as adding, "The military war is putting Ukraine's nuclear power plants and other facilities with hazardous material in unprecedented danger."
"We must act quickly to ensure that they can continue to run safely and securely, reducing the risk of a nuclear disaster that may have serious health and environmental consequences in Ukraine and beyond," Grossi said.
Grossi will visit one of Ukraine's nuclear power reactors this week, the IAEA said. As per a separate IAEA statement issued Tuesday night, eight of Ukraine's 15 operational reactors are still operational, while the others have been shut down for routine maintenance.
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