Inside besieged Ukraine nuke plant with holes in roof, shattered windows & Z-trucks as inspectors warn of ‘grave danger’

NUCLEAR inspectors in Ukraine have called for a safety zone to be set up around Europe's biggest nuke plant, as fears remain that the site could be caught in the crossfire of shelling by Russia's invading forces.

Russia has occupied the site at Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine since the early days of its war, and the six-reactor nuclear plant has come under repeated attack ever since.

Last week, inspectors from the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited the plant, where its head, Rafael Grossi, warned of a very real risk of nuclear disaster.

Leaked video showed Russian military equipment being stored inside the plant's turbine hall, just metres from the reactors.

On Tuesday, the IAEA called for the creation of a security zone around the plant as it released its report looking into the damage at the site.

The report listed some of the damages inspectors observed during their mission to the plant.

It said it was "gravely concerned" about the "unprecedented" situation at the plant, where Ukrainian technicians continue to operate under the eye of occupying Russian forces.

The report set out the incredibly stressful and high-pressured environment Ukrainian staff were working under, with limited technicians available.

"This is not sustainable and could lead to increased human error with implications for nuclear safety," it added.

At least two members of the 14-strong IAEA team will remain at the plant on a permanent basis to try and keep people safe.

Russian troops seized control of Zaporizhzhia in early March, and their troops have been stationed there ever since.

The Kremlin has denied responsibility for damage to the plant, blaming Kyiv for the shelling at the site.

For its part, Kyiv blames Russia for heavy shelling and using the plant to hide its military equipment.

"There is an urgent need for interim measures to prevent a nuclear accident arising from physical damage caused by military means," the IAEA said in its report.

"This can be achieved by the immediate establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone.

"The IAEA recommends that shelling on site and in its vicinity should be stopped immediately to avoid any further damages to the plant and associated facilities."

There is an urgent need for interim measures to prevent a nuclear accident arising from physical damage caused by military means

IAEA report

During the inspection, the IAEA said, its team "closely witnessed shelling in the vicinity of the power plant, in particular on 3 September when the team was instructed to evacuate to the ground level of the administrative building".

That same day, the plant was disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid, keeping it relying on backup power.

"While the ongoing shelling has not yet triggered a nuclear emergency, it continues to represent a constant threat to nuclear safety and security with potential impact on critical safety functions that may lead to radiological consequences with great safety significance," the report added.

The IAEA also called for the establishment of an off-site power supply to maintain the plant's security systems.

As Zaporizhzhia had, "on several" occasions lost its off-site power supply, the UN group recommended that the off-site power supply line "should be re-established and available at any time".

It called for the remaining staff at the plant to receive family support.

The IAEA also claimed its inspectors had to secure permission from the Russian military to visit the plant's cooling ponds, and criticised the presence of officials from Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom.

It warned of possible friction when key decisions have to be made.

Russia has already responded angrily to Tuesday's report.

The country's ambassador to the UN said the IAEA should have blamed Ukraine for shelling the plant.

"We regret that in your report... the source of the shelling is not directly named," Vasily Nebenzya told the Security Council session attended virtually by Mr Grossi.

It comes as a Russian colonel was reportedly assassinated in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Bardin Artem Igorevich, who was appointed by the Kremlin to oversee the city of Berdyansk, was reportedly killed in a car bomb on Tuesday.