IAEA broadening presence in Ukraine

BRUSSELS. Jan 16 (Interfax) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is broadening its presence in Ukraine to assist in the provision of nuclear security, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

"The IAEA is expanding its presence in Ukraine to help prevent a nuclear accident during the ongoing conflict," Grossi said on Twitter.

"I'm proud to lead this mission to Ukraine, where we're deploying in all of the country's NPPs to provide assistance in nuclear safety and security," he said.

The IAEA said earlier that Grossi would visit a number of nuclear power plants in Ukraine this week.

"Grossi will be in Ukraine next week to establish a continuous presence of nuclear safety and security experts at all the country's nuclear power facilities," the IAEA said on Friday.

"The Director General will travel to the South Ukraine and Rovno Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) as well as to the Chernobyl site to launch the missions consisting of two IAEA experts at each of the facilities," it said.

A two-member team will also be stationed at the Khmelnitsky NPP, the IAEA said.

The IAEA noted that it had provided the permanent presence of four experts at the Zaporozhye NPP.

Additionally, Grossi will meet with senior Ukrainian officials to discuss Zaporozhye NPP security zone proposals during a visit to Kiev.