The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, plans to visit the Kursk nuclear power plant next week, Radiosvoboda reports.
Grossi told the Financial Times that he intends to talk to the plant’s managers, assess the condition of the external power supply and access roads. He noted that as a result of the Ukrainian army’s advance into Russia, the station is now within its artillery range.
The IAEA chief noted that the proximity of the nuclear power plant to the fighting is of “particular concern” as there are two reactors operating at the plant.
Last week, Russia accused Ukraine of preparing an attack on the Kursk NPP.
This was stated by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who called on the UN and IAEA to condemn the “provocation,” and the Defense Ministry, which threatened “retaliatory measures”.
At the same time, Ukraine denied the accusations.
Ukraine has neither the intention nor the ability to take any such actions. Russia must stop spreading dangerous lies, – said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi.
The Kursk NPP is located in the immediate vicinity of Kurchatov and not far from the two largest cities in the region – Kursk and Zheleznogorsk. Reinforced concrete shelters are being installed there, said the head of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation Alexei Smirnov.
