The Ukrainian and Russian governments exchanged responsibilities for the violence in the region, with Ukrainian state-owned nuclear company Energoatom noting that the latest closure was the result of “another mortar fire through Russian professional forces at the site of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant. “
UKRAINE’S NUCLEAR AGENCY WARNS OF RISK OF HYDROGEN AND RADIOACTIVE LEAKS FOLLOWING DAMAGE TO ZAPORIZHZHIA POWER PLANT
“This is the time in the last 10 days when corrupt movements by rioters led to the closure of the unit and the forced disruption of the station,” the company said in a statement.
Ukrainian military officials took to social media to claim that Russian artillery and helicopters were shelling the road through Enerhodar that UN officials were due to take on Thursday, while the Russian government responded that Ukrainian forces had tried to retake the Russian-occupied factory since early in the morning. The attack was still repulsed by Russian forces.
UN officials still arrived at the plant on Thursday night despite the emerging violence in the area, fulfilling their promise to succeed at the site after hours of delay.
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“We have a very, very important task to carry out there, to assess the real situation there, to help stabilize the situation as much as possible,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told reporters on Wednesday. “I am well aware of the relevance of this moment, however, we are ready. The IAEA is ready. “
Michael Lee works at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter @UAMichaelLee