MOSCOW

The risks to nuclear safety at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) are increasing, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must respond appropriately, said Alexey Likhachev, director general of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Likhachev said he provided his counterpart with the relevant information.

"We have seen a recent expansion of risks. This includes the invasion of Ukraine's armed forces into the Kursk region, with corresponding risks to the Kursk NPP, as well as dozens of downed drones and missiles targeting energy infrastructure, including those near the Smolensk nuclear power plant," he said.

"Unfortunately, these developments are increasing the risks to nuclear safety and require both appropriate actions from us and an appropriate response from the IAEA," he said.

Likhachev also informed Grossi about the rising number of attacks by Ukrainian forces on the Zaporizhia NPP and the measures being taken to protect it.

"We have provided the IAEA delegation with comprehensive information on the steps being taken to ensure the unconditional nuclear safety of the Zaporizhia NPP, both in terms of technical preparedness and physical security," he remarked.

However, Likhachev noted that "the risks posed by Ukraine's armed forces are escalating."

"We see this in the increasing number of downed drones and missiles, as well as artillery strikes falling on areas nearly adjacent to the NPP. This is cause for concern," he stressed.

For his part, Grossi said it was impossible to determine the origin of fragments of drones used in attacks on the Zaporizhia NPP, but the IAEA continues to raise this issue at international forums.

The IAEA director general also confirmed the growing number of attacks on the Zaporizhia NPP, saying the security situation remains difficult.

The UN nuclear body will continue to support the work of the Zaporizhia NPP staff to ensure the plant operates in a stable and safe manner, he added.

Grossi said another rotation of IAEA personnel at the Zaporizhia NPP is expected to take place soon.

Earlier, Grossi held talks in Kyiv on nuclear safety. This visit marked his 11th trip to Ukraine since the escalation of conflict between the two countries in 2022.