IAEA Chief Grossi to Assess Security at Kursk Nuclear Plant Amid Increased Hostilities

U.N. nuclear agency chief Rafael Grossi will visit Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant, which has been attacked multiple times by Ukrainian forces. The visit aims to assess the plant's safety amidst ongoing conflict. The IAEA's mission is crucial due to the risk of a potential nuclear disaster.

The head of the U.N. nuclear agency, Rafael Grossi, is scheduled to visit Russia's Kursk nuclear power plant on Tuesday. Moscow claims the plant has been targeted multiple times by Ukrainian forces, which are stationed just 40 kilometers away.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has repeatedly compromised the safety of nuclear facilities, including the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine. The recent focus on the Kursk plant comes after Ukrainian forces penetrated Russian territory on August 6.

President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of attempting to attack the Kursk nuclear plant, which features reactors similar to those in the Chernobyl disaster. Grossi's visit aims to ensure the plant's safety and validate information from the site owned by Rosatom.

(With inputs from agencies.)