On Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that a preliminary investigation into Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's reports that Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant had been set with explosives did not reveal any explosives at all.
The IAEA said that while there were no "visible indications" of danger, further access to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control, was needed to rule out the possibility altogether. Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of intending to blow up the reactor.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement that experts "have in recent days and weeks inspected parts of the facility – including some sections of the perimeter of the large cooling pond – and have also conducted regular walkdowns across the site, so far without observing any visible indications of mines or explosives."
Grossi called for officials to give his team access to the rooftops of reactor units three and four, as well as parts of the turbine halls and cooling system.
"With military tension and activities increasing in the region where this major nuclear power plant is located, our experts must be able to verify the facts on the ground," he said.
"Their independent and objective reporting would help clarify the current situation at the site, which is crucial at a time like this with unconfirmed allegations and counter allegations."
He said it was imperative that IAEA experts be able to verify that the "five basic principles" established by the United Nations Security Council in May pertaining to the plant during times of war were being adhered to.
President Zelensky claimed that "the Russian military has placed objects resembling explosives on the roof of several power units." Russia evacuated staff from the plant.
Despite IAEA's statement refuting his claims, Zelensky has yet to retract earlier statements on the matter.
