ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — Ukraine said a reactor at its Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant complex was shut down on Thursday by Russian shelling just before a team of UN nuclear experts was due to visit the site, while Moscow said it had thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to seize the plant.
Both sides accused each other of trying to sabotage the visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern central Ukraine, which is controlled by Russian forces but operated by Ukrainian staff.
A Reuters reporter in Russian-controlled Enerhodar near the plant said a residential building was struck by shelling, forcing people to take cover in a basement. It was not possible to establish who had fired. Soldiers ran about and helicopters flew overhead.
Conditions at the nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, have been unravelling for weeks, with Moscow and Kyiv regularly trading blame for shelling in the vicinity and fueling fears of a Chornobyl-style radiation disaster.
Earlier, the chief of the IAEA told reporters in the city of Zaporizhzhia, some 55 km (34 miles) from the plant, he was aware of “increased military activity in the area” but would press ahead with the plan to visit the facility and meet staff.
“Having come so far, we are not stopping,” said Rafael Grossi, who is heading the mission.
Shortly afterwards, operator Energoatom announced the shutdown of one of only two operational reactors at the plant.
“As a result of another mortar shelling by Russian … forces at the site of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the emergency protection was activated and the operational fifth power unit was shut down,” Energoatom wrote on the
Telegram messaging app.
“Power unit No. 6 continues to work in the energy system of Ukraine” and is supplying electricity for the power plant’s own needs, it said.
‘PROVOCATION’
Meanwhile, Russia accused Ukrainian forces of trying to seize the plant and also of shelling both the meeting point of the IAEA delegation and the nuclear plant itself.
Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement that up to 60 Ukrainian troops had crossed the Dnipro river, which divides territory held by the two sides, in boats at 6:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), in what it said was a “provocation” aimed at disrupting the planned IAEA visit.
The ministry said that “measures had been taken” to destroy the opposing troops, including use of military aviation.
Separately, a local Russian-installed official, Vladimir Rogov, told state broadcaster RT that Ukrainian forces launched an attack out of “desperation” over the IAEA’s inspectors’ visit. He said Ukrainian assault troops were now pinned down by Russian air force.
Russian state news agency TASS reported that residential areas in the town of Enerhodar – home to the Zaporizhzhia plant – had come under “massive” shelling from Ukrainian troops overnight, citing Russian-appointed authorities.
Reuters could not independently verify the Russian reports or the Ukrainian report of Russian shelling at the plant.
Grossi said on Wednesday the IAEA mission aimed “to prevent a nuclear accident”.
Russian-installed officials have suggested that the team from the U.N. nuclear watchdog would have only a day to inspect the plant, while the mission is preparing for longer.
“If we are able to establish a permanent presence, or a continued presence, then it’s going to be prolonged. But this first segment is going to take a few days,” Grossi said.
