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UN PhotoIAEA / GROSSI ZAPORIZHZHYA ATTACKS
STORY: IAEA / GROSSI ZAPORIZHZHYA ATTACKS
TRT: 4:03
SOURCE: IAEA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 11 APRIL 2024, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
1. Various shots, conference room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General:
“On Sunday, direct attacks against Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant marked a major escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers in Ukraine, significantly increasing the risk of a nuclear accident.”
3. Various shots, conference room
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General:
“I firmly appeal to military decision makers to abstain from any action violating the IAEA’s five concrete principles to prevent a nuclear accident and ensure the integrity of the plant and I urge the international community actively to work towards a de-escalation of what is a very serious situation.”
5. Various shots, conference room
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General:
“One of these attacks resulted in a direct hit on the reactor dome of Unit 6. Whilst the damage to the structure has not compromised nuclear safety, it is a serious incident, with strikes on the ZNPP’s primary containment representing a step-change increase in risk to nuclear safety. The other two attacks were in close proximity to the main reactor buildings and resulted in at least one casualty. A further drone attack and bursts of rifle fire were reported on Tuesday, an ominous indication of an apparent readiness to continue these attacks, despite the grave dangers they pose to nuclear safety and security.”
7. Various shots, conference room
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General:
“The most recent attacks, however, are a clear violation of the principles and have shifted us into an acutely consequential juncture in this war. As I have repeatedly stated – including at the Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors – no one can conceivably benefit or gain any military or political advantage from attacks against nuclear facilities. Attacking a nuclear power plant is an absolute no go.”
9. Various shots, conference room
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General:
“Sunday’s attack fortunately did not compromise nuclear safety in a serious way, but it would be irresponsible for us to assume future attacks will not. Rolling the dice is not the way to do it in nuclear safety.”
11. Various shots, conference room
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General:
“I call on maximum restraint and clear observance by all, of these fundamental, straight forward, indispensable principles. I ask the Board unanimously to support the role of the IAEA in monitoring them, for the benefit of all. We all must use every lever available to us to ensure there are no future attacks on ZNPP.”
13. Various shots, conference room
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, “On Sunday (07 Apr), direct attacks against Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant marked a major escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers in Ukraine, significantly increasing the risk of a nuclear accident.”
The Director General spoke to the Special Board of Governors today (11 Apr) in Vienna.
Grossi “firmly” appealed to military decision makers to “abstain from any action violating the IAEA’s five concrete principles to prevent a nuclear accident and ensure the integrity of the plant and I urge the international community actively to work towards a de-escalation of what is a very serious situation.”
The Director General said, “One of these attacks resulted in a direct hit on the reactor dome of Unit 6. Whilst the damage to the structure has not compromised nuclear safety, it is a serious incident, with strikes on the ZNPP’s primary containment representing a step-change increase in risk to nuclear safety.”
He added, “The other two attacks were in close proximity to the main reactor buildings and resulted in at least one casualty. A further drone attack and bursts of rifle fire were reported on Tuesday, an ominous indication of an apparent readiness to continue these attacks, despite the grave dangers they pose to nuclear safety and security.”
At the Board of Governors meeting just one month ago, Grossi warned of the precarious situation at ZNPP. He was able to report to the Board that the International Support and Assistance Mission to ZNPP (ISAMZ) had not found any indications the five concrete principles were not being observed.
However, the most recent attacks, Grossi said that are “clear violation of the principles and have shifted us into an acutely consequential juncture in this war.
He added, “As I have repeatedly stated – including at the Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors – no one can conceivably benefit or gain any military or political advantage from attacks against nuclear facilities. Attacking a nuclear power plant is an absolute no go.”
The Director General also said, “Sunday’s attack fortunately did not compromise nuclear safety in a serious way, but it would be irresponsible for us to assume future attacks will not. Rolling the dice is not the way to do it in nuclear safety.”
Grossi reiterated the five concrete principles established at the UN Security Council on 30 May 2023 and called on “maximum restraint and clear observance by all, of these fundamental, straight forward, indispensable principles.”
He asked the Board “unanimously to support the role of the IAEA in monitoring them, for the benefit of all. We all must use every lever available to us to ensure there are no future attacks on ZNPP.”
