Live: IAEA team pressing ahead with Zaporizhzhia plant visit despite ‘increased military activity’
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Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Thursday said his team of UN inspectors were “pressing ahead” with their visit to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant despite “increased military activity in the area”. The IAEA left Zaporizhzhia city for the much-awaited visit to the plant earlier Thursday. Follow FRANCE 24’s liveblog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
10:22am: Russia doing 'everything' for Zaporizhzhia plant to operate safely: Lavrov
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has insisted that Moscow is doing everything to ensure that Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant can operate safely, and for IAEA inspectors to be able to complete their tasks.
"We are doing everything to ensure that this station is safe, that it functions safely, and for the mission there to carry out all its plans," said Lavrov at an event in Moscow.
10:07am: 'Time to stop playing with fire' round Zaporizhzhia plant: ICRC chief
The Red Cross has called for a halt to all military operations around the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, warning the consequences of a strike could be "catastrophic".
"It is high time to stop playing with fire and instead take concrete measures to protect this facility and others like it from any military operations," Robert Mardini, director general of the ICRC, told reporters in Kyiv.
"The slightest miscalculation could trigger devastations that we will regret for decades."
8:56am: ‘Very tense, very unclear’ situation in Zaporizhzhia city
Reporting from Zaporizhzhia city, FRANCE 24’s James André said journalists saw the IAEA team getting ready to leave their hotel in Zaporizhzhia city for the nuclear plant early Thursday before IAEA chief Rafael Grossi spoke to reporters.
Grossi said the team was “aware” of the military activity in the area, “but we’re not stopping after coming so far”.
Regarding the IAEA mission’s security situation, André explained the Russians and Ukrainians were locked in “a blame game” with each side accusing the other of attacking the Zaporizhzhia area and attempting to sabotage the mission. It's “a very tense, very unclear situation unfolding here", explained André as the UN inspection team heads for Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
8:18am Russia accuses Ukraine of trying to capture Zaporizhzhia plant
Russia's defence ministry said Ukrainian forces had attempted to seize the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Thursday morning.
In a statement, the ministry said that up to 60 Ukrainian troops had crossed the Dnipro river, which divides territory held by the two sides, in boats at 6am local time. It called the operation a "provocation" aimed at disrupting the IAEA to the nuclear plant.
The ministry said that "measures had been taken" to destroy the opposing troops, including use of military aviation.
The report could not be immediately verified.
8:05am Ukraine accuses Russia of shelling IAEA mission route
Russian troops were shelling the route of the IAEA mission planned to allow them access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, said Oleksandr Starukh, the head of the Zaporizhzhia region.
"The Russians are shelling the pre-agreed route of the IAEA mission from (the city of) Zaporizhzhia to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The UN advance team cannot continue to move due to security reasons," Starukh wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
7:37am: IAEA team 'pressing ahead' despite 'increased military activity'
The IAEA team has set off from Zaporizhzhia city towards the nuclear power plant in the Russian-controlled town of Enerhodar despite reports of intense shelling there.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the mission was aware of "increased military activity in the area" but was pressing ahead with its plan to visit the facility and meet its staff.
6:38am: Moscow approves Japan stakes in Sakhalin energy project
Two Japanese trading houses will maintain stakes in a Russian energy project despite Tokyo joining sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine, as the Asian country looks to secure its power supply.
Moscow is transferring operation of the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project to a new Russian firm, with foreign stakeholders required to apply for approval to maintain their interests.
Like other countries that have joined sanctions, Japan is seeking to reduce its reliance on Russian energy imports but struggling to find alternatives.
5:05am: IAEA team expected to visit Zaporizhzhia plant soon
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are expected to arrive at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine later today.
The inspection will take one or two days and six to eight IAEA experts are expected to stay at the plant following the visit, according to the Russian-installed officials in Enerhodar, the town where the plant is based.
Russian and Ukrainian forces have accused each other of shelling the plant, actions that have raised concerns about a possible nuclear disaster.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
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