IAEA director general says Zaporozhye NPP security situation is playing with fire, continuing talks to solve problem

BRUSSELS. May 22 (Interfax) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said he is holding intensive talks to achieve an agreement on protecting the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, including access to and the security of external power sources, according to a statement published on the organization's website.

"This morning's loss of all off-site power demonstrates the highly vulnerable nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. As I've said repeatedly, this simply can't go on. We're playing with fire. We must act now to avoid the very real danger of a nuclear accident in Europe," Grossi said in the statement.

It was reported earlier on Monday that the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant in Energodar had been disconnected from external power sources running through the territory of Ukraine. The power supply was later resumed.