Russia-Ukraine crisis: International Atomic Energy Agency calls extraordinary meeting

Ukrainian authorities said that radiation levels had increased following the Russian takeover of Chernobyl

By AFP

Published: Sun 27 Feb 2022, 8:28 PM

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Sunday that it was calling an extraordinary meeting of its board of governors next week “to discuss the current situation in Ukraine”.

The meeting will begin at 11 am (1000 GMT) on Wednesday at the IAEA’s Vienna headquarters, the agency said in a statement.

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It said Director General Rafael Grossi “is actively in contact with all involved to ensure the safety and security of nuclear facilities and material in Ukraine”.

Ukraine has four active nuclear power plants, as well as stores of nuclear waste such as the one at Chernobyl.

That was the site of the worst nuclear accident in history in 1986 and on Thursday the site fell to Russian troops.

Ukrainian authorities said that radiation levels had increased there following the Russian takeover but the IAEA said the levels remained low and did not “pose any danger to the public”.

Also on Sunday the IAEA said it had been informed by Ukraine that “missiles hit the site of a radioactive waste disposal facility in Kiev overnight but there were no reports of damage to the building or any indications of a radioactive release”.

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Nevertheless Grossi said such incidents “highlight the very real risk that facilities with radioactive material will suffer damage during the conflict, with potentially severe consequences for human health and the environment”.

“Once again, I urgently and strongly appeal to all parties to refrain from any military or other action that could threaten the safety and security of these facilities,” he added.

The meeting on Wednesday will come days before a scheduled board of governors meeting and coincides with a crucial phase of efforts to fully restore the 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Diplomats from Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran and Russia have been taking part in talks on reviving the accord in Vienna, with their success or failure widely expected to hinge on negotiations in the coming days.

The United States has been taking part in the talks indirectly.