Russia has not yet allowed access to the roofs of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor, according to the IAEA

VIENNA, July 20 (Reuters) – Moscow has still not let the UN’s nuclear watchdog inspect the roofs of reactors at Russia’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the watchdog said on Thursday, two weeks after it first requested what it called “essential” access.

On July 4, Russia and Ukraine accused each other of plotting to stage an attack on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, where the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned of potential disaster from nearby military clashes.

A small IAEA team based at the plant sought to verify the charges, saying they had so far seen no signs of foul play.

“(IAEA) experts have carried out additional inspections and visits to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP) over the past week – so far without observing any heavy military equipment, explosives or mines – but they are still waiting for access to the rooftops of the reactor buildings,” the IAEA said in a statement Thursday, its first on Ukraine in a week.

The IAEA said on July 5 that access to the roofs of reactors 3 and 4 was “essential”, as was access to parts of the turbine halls. The Ukrainian armed forces had declared the day before that “operational data” showed that “explosive devices” had been placed on the roofs of these two reactors.

Thursday’s statement said IAEA inspectors visited various areas of reactors 1 through 4 this month.

“While IAEA experts saw transport trucks in the turbine halls of Units 1, 2 and 4, there were no visible indications of explosives or mines,” the agency said.

“The team has not yet obtained the requested access to the roofs of the reactors and their engine rooms, including units 3 and 4 which are of particular interest. The Agency continues to request this access.”

Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Alex Richardson and Mike Harrison

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