If the world forces Russia to de-occupy the Zaporizhzhia NPP, at the time of handover, the IAEA must conduct a thorough survey of the entire plant to exclude the possibility of its remote detonation. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with representatives of the leading Spanish media.
"The Zaporizhzhia NPP is mined. This is the fact. There are mined areas. The IAEA confirms that the Zaporizhzhia plant is mined, but they say that the reactor is not mined. However, this is confirmation that the plant is mined. Our intelligence clearly confirmed that the plant is mined. We have a clear confirmation, according to our information, that there are about 500 fighters at the plant. The IAEA does not know the exact number, but they say: yes, a large number of fighters with various weapons, with grenades. There are heavy weapons on the territory of the plant," the President said.
According to the Head of State, the presence of weapons and mines at the NPP creates an obviously dangerous situation.
He said that, according to information from Ukrainian intelligence, the Russian Federation has a plan to provoke the release of hazardous substances at the plant. But, since the Ukrainian side does not fire on the ZNPP, the occupiers are looking for a format and moment to implement this plan.
"That's why it's very dangerous. We talk about it out loud again and again – just as we talked about the blowing up of the dam of the Kakhovka reservoir a year ago. We shared our data with intelligence partners. The same thing is happening now with the Zaporizhzhia power plant," Zelenskyy said.
The President said that he had discussed this acute situation with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, but his experts alone, without the support of the world, will not be able to force Russia to leave the ZNNP.
"Even if we, the whole world, manage to influence Russia to hand over the plant... At the moment of handing over the plant, the IAEA needs forces, means, and people who will check the plant being handed over. Because we are sure that they will hand it over with mined elements so that they have a chance later – we know for sure that this was considered by the Russian Federation as one of the plans – then, when the plant is handed over to us, to detonate remotely for the release," the Head of State said.
Therefore, he is convinced that at the time of the transfer of the Zaporizhzhia power plant to the IAEA, it will be necessary to check it in great detail, as well as to warn the Russian Federation that their plans are known.