The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, stated on Wednesday that the agency is seeking to establish a permanent presence at the war-torn Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility in southeastern Ukraine.
According to Axios, Grossi arrived in Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday with his team of 13 experts. They will inspect the facility later this week to help avoid any potential nuclear catastrophe triggered by military activity.
"The mission will take a few days," Grossi told reporters upon his arrival. "And if we are able to establish a permanent presence — or a continued presence, better said — then it is going to be prolonged. But this first segment — so to speak — is going to take a few days."
In recent weeks, both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the artillery shelling near the plant. Both sides have accused the other of planning a "false flag" attack on the plant, but each has denied the other's allegations.
Last week, Ukraine's nuclear agency warned there could be hydrogen and radioactive leaks coming from the plant due to the shelling that may have damaged the facility's integrity.
Currently, the nuclear facility is under the control of Russian-occupied forces and has been since March. However, a team of Ukrainian staff still operates the plant.
Also, on Wednesday, Russia's Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, wrote on social media that "Russia welcomes [the] intention" of the IAEA establishing a permanent presence at the nuclear facility.
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