IAEA director general plans to visit Ukraine, Russia within next 10 days

NEW YORK (UN). Jan 26 (Interfax) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has announced plans to visit the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Kiev and Russia soon.

"I am prepared to return to Zaporozhye within the next 10 days or so. I will be there and also in Kiev and in Russia," Grossi told journalists following a briefing on the situation at the Zaporozhye NPP for the United Nations Security Council.

Grossi said that he would oversee the next, 16th rotation of IAEA staff at the Zaporozhye NPP.

"It will be the 16th rotation of personnel. I am going with a number of experts. Most importantly, I will be talking to the management there, the Russian management of the plant," he said.

Grossi said he is going to Russia to have "political and technical dialogue."

However, according to Grossi, it cannot be said yet that the situation around the Zaporozhye NPP has stabilized.

"You can have a good week, and then a drone aims at the plant," Grossi said.

"We need diplomacy that works. That is what I am trying to do," he said.

Several IAEA specialists are stationed at the Zaporozhye NPP on a rotating basis. The latest IAEA personnel rotation, the 15th since September 1, 2022, took place on January 11.