IAEA Inspection Mission Security Guarantee Kremlin To PLTN Zaporizhia In Russia-controlled Region

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons/Пресс-слула езидента осии)

JAKARTA - Russia will guarantee the security of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission in areas it controls around the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

"Regarding the territory controlled by Russia, all necessary security will be guaranteed (for the IAEA mission at PLTN Zaporizhia), given the persistent risks there associated with the intense shooting of Ukraine in these areas," Peskov said. quoted from TASS August 30.

According to him, the IAEA inspection team will arrive at the location of PLTN Zaporizhia from a Ukrainian-controlled area.

"You know, that (the team) entered there from an area under the control of the Ukrainian armed forces. As far as I understand, it became (the responsibility) of Ukraine guaranteeing security there," Peskov said.

He added that military tensions around PLTN Zaporizhia could be reduced, with international pressure on Ukraine to stop its shooting.

"We still believe that all countries must continue to pressure Ukraine, to stop endangering the European continent by shooting down the location of PLTN Zaporizhia and the surrounding area," he stressed.

As previously reported, IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi's mission will conduct an inspection of PLTN Zaporizhia this week to assess any damage from recent shootings near Europe's largest PLTN, in which Russia and Ukraine blame each other.

"We have to protect the safety and security of the largest nuclear facilities in Ukraine and Europe," Grossi said on Twitter with a photo of himself along with 13 other staff members.

Neither Grossi nor the agency determined when they would arrive in Zaporizhia. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Ministry of Energy said it would not comment on the IAEA mission journey "for security reasons".