VIENNA, April 10. /TASS/: Ukraine has notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the first rotation of the personnel of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in three weeks, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Sunday.
"Ukraine informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today that it had carried out the first staff rotation at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in three weeks and only the second since late February when Russian forces seized the site," he said.
According to Grossi, it is "a much-needed positive step for the wellbeing of the NPP’s personnel and their families." The personnel rotation, in his words, was important to ensure safe and secure operation of the nuclear plant, which was controlled by Russian troops for five weeks until their withdrawal on March 31.
The IAEA also said it received more information from Ukraine about damages to the NPP’s analytical laboratories for radiation monitoring. According to Ukraine, "the premises were destroyed and the analytical instruments stolen, broken or otherwise disabled." "In addition, an associated Information and Communication Centre had been looted, parts of its communication lines destroyed, and the automated transmission of radiation monitoring data disabled," IAEA said.
On April 8, the IAEA said it was about to dispatch assistance to Ukraine to help ensure physical nuclear security of Ukrainian nuclear sites. It also said it will soon send a mission to the Chernobyl plant to monitor radiation levels, deliver technical equipment and restore the station’s monitoring systems.
Grossi visited Ukraine on March 29-31 to launch the agency’s mission to ensure the safety of Ukrainian nuclear facilities with respect to Russia’s military operation. No threats of radiation proliferation in Ukraine have been registered.
