International Nuclear Energy Agency Mission Launched for Zaporizha

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Monday that the UN nuclear overseer's mission to Zaporizhja will be the <x0 most difficult> mission in the history of the International Atomic Energy Agency”.

These comments come as this agency announced Monday morning that its experts are on their way to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizia.

We expect from the mission a clear statement of evidence, violation of all nuclear security protocols. We know Russia is risking not only Ukraine, but the whole world from a nuclear accident. I have no information about the leaks at the plant. This is exactly the mission of the International Nuclear Energy Agency to inspect the situation and come up with data”, said the Ukrainian top diplomat, Kuleba.

He urged Russia to leave Zaporisigiza before a nuclear disaster occurs.

On the other hand, Russia's Defence Ministry accused Ukraine on Monday of sending a threat to conduct attacks at the Zaporizija nuclear power plant.

Kyiv's “regime continues to provoke to create a man-made disaster at the Zaporizha nuclear power plant. On August 28, a Ukrainian attack fear was fired by small arms as it approached the special building No. 1, which preserves American nuclear fuel and solid radioactive waste. The tree that was shot down by Russian soldiers fell on the roof of the special building No. 1. Heavy damage and victims were avoided”, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konasenkov said.

He also said Russia had crashed two Ukrainian warplanes over Zaporisiza and Donjeck regions, though these reports have not been independently confirmed.

Both sides have denied that they are shelling the Zaporisizia plant in recent weeks, while each accuses the other of such a thing.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Gross has been asking for months for access to the Zaporizia plant. While a delegation of this agency was launched Monday morning for the nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

The situation over Zaporizhzia is also the main concern for French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke of the frightening situation after meeting with Polish Prime Minister Matthews Morawicki.

“Situate around the Zaporisigiza plant is certainly the one that worries us the most. We've done everything in the last few days to help organize the International Nuclear Energy Agency mission. We have a common concern: First of all, nuclear security should not become fragile by this war. And so this mission is important, it should preserve this thermal power plant and the security of the entire region”, Mr. Macron said.

With the growing fear of a nuclear accident in Ukraine from Monday, Zaporisizia authorities have started distributing iodine tablets to its residents.

Because our area is located 50km away from the nuclear power plant, in the area of possible radiation exposure, we're distributing iodine tablets for people, mainly for those under 40 years. Those over 40 are not recommended to take the medicine. It's a precautionary and historical measure. The medicine is taken only after an official announcement by authorities” said the medical doctor at the Iodi distribution centre, Lilia Kolesnik.

I'm here to get your iodine pills. In the event of radiation exposure, we will suffer no side effects. We are grateful for organising distribution”, Zaporisizia resident Olha said, who refused to give his last name.

According to doctor Lilia Kolesnik, about 8,500 people have taken these pills, including 2,500 children.

iodine tablets can block radioactive radiation and are used in nuclear emergencies to help protect thyroids, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.