UPDATE - IAEA delegation arrives at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

REVISES LEDE; UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS FROM RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY AND IAEA HEAD; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headed by Director General Rafael Grossi arrived at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) on Wednesday.

“Russian military personnel ensured the safe conduct of the next rotation of observers of the IAEA mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” said a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry.

The statement said Russian military personnel ensured the safe passage of observers from the IAEA mission and their travel to the plant.

Noting that this is Grossi’s fourth visit to the plant, the statement said he toured the start-up boiler room as well as the machine room of the fourth power unit.

“When inspecting the road in the transition areas, Russian military personnel discovered unexploded ordnance left as a result of new systematic shelling from the Ukrainian side in the immediate vicinity of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” it said.

Separately, Grossi said in a statement on X that he “assessed observance of the IAEA’s 5 principles for protecting the plant & status of current power and cooling systems, levels of qualified staff, among others.”

“These are vital assessments for the facility's safety and security—no place for complacency,” he added.​​​​​​​

The Zaporizhzhia NPP, the biggest in Europe and among the 10 largest in the world, has been under Russian control since early 2022.​​​​​​​

Since then, fears of a nuclear catastrophe have persisted as both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling near the plant.​​​​​​​

*Burc Eruygur contributed to this story from Istanbul