Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi condemned the shelling of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, and insists on an urgent inspection of the nuclear facility seized by the Russians.

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Grossi called the hostilities that threaten the safety of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant " Shelling on and from the plant is playing with fire, with potentially catastrophic consequences, he added..

Grossi urged " Although it would be more logical to address this call to the Russian invaders, who use the station as a “human shield” for shelling Ukrainian positions and residential areas of Nikopol.

“I condemn any violent acts committed at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, near it or against its personnel. Ukrainian personnel serving the station under Russian occupation must be able to perform their important duties without threats and pressure,” he added..

The IAEA Director General believes that “almost all of the seven pillars of nuclear safety” have been destroyed since the March storming of the invaders at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. including August 5.

" In order to prevent the situation from getting out of control, I am ready to lead the IAEA security mission to the largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine,” he said..

But for the work of the mission, the consent of Ukraine and the Russian Federation is necessary, reminded Grossi. As well as support for the UN and its Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

" To protect people in Ukraine and other countries from a potential nuclear accident, we must all put our differences aside and act now.. The IAEA is ready,” Grossi concluded.

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The day before, Russian invaders fired twice at the industrial site of a nuclear power plant.. The first shelling damaged the high-voltage line of the autotransformer, after which it was necessary to unload and turn off the fourth power unit. The second one is the nitrogen-oxygen station and the joint auxiliary building.

Head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell urged to send an IAEA monitoring mission to the station. Meanwhile, the OPU and the relevant ministry cannot yet agree on the need for such an inspection..