The UN agency confirmed the presence of mines around the perimeter of the Zaporozhye power plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Monday the presence of mines along the perimeter of the nuclear power plant in Zaporozhye in southern Ukraine, occupied by Russian troops.

The mines were discovered by experts from this United Nations (UN) agency during an inspection carried out on Sunday in the restricted area between the perimeter fences of the complex and, in principle, out of the reach of the center’s personnel.

“The IAEA was aware of the placement of mines outside the perimeter of the facilities, as well as in certain places inside. Our team presented this particular discovery to the center and we were told that it was a military decision in an area controlled by the military as well,” Argentinean Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, said in a statement.

“The presence of these explosives in this place violates the IAEA nuclear safety standards and recommendations and creates additional psychological pressure on the station staff,” he criticized.

However, the IAEA’s “initial assessment,” Grossi added, is that the eventual detonation of these mines “should not affect the plant’s nuclear safety systems.”

The statement said that the IAEA team conducts regular inspections at the plant, so far not noticing heavy military equipment.

UN experts are still waiting to gain access to the rooftops of the reactors, where the Ukrainian government claims to have detected the presence of objects that could be explosive.

The IAEA noted that on July 22, his team at the plant heard several explosions nearby.

For several months now, the Agency has been asking not to use the plant to store weapons or explosives.

In early July, Ukraine claimed that Russian troops planted explosives at the plant.