VIENNA: Ukraine鈥檚 operational nuclear power plants are running safely and there has been no 鈥渄estruction鈥� at the remaining waste and other facilities at Chernobyl, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Thursday, citing Ukraine鈥檚 nuclear regulator.
Facilities including the now-defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) were captured by Russian forces on Thursday after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said.
The remaining activities around the plant where Europe鈥檚 worst nuclear disaster occurred in 1986 include nuclear waste management and storage, according to the website of the operator, the State Specialized Enterprise Chornobyl NPP.
鈥淯kraine has informed the IAEA that 鈥榰nidentified armed forces鈥� have taken control of all facilities of the State Specialized Enterprise Chornobyl NPP, located within the Exclusion Zone,鈥� the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement.
鈥淭he counterpart added that there had been no casualties nor destruction at the industrial site.鈥�
The IAEA lists four operational nuclear power plants in Ukraine on its website.
The IAEA 鈥渋s following the situation in Ukraine with grave concern and is appealing for maximum restraint to avoid any action that may put the country鈥檚 nuclear facilities at risk,鈥� it said.
鈥淭he Ukraine regulatory body ... has earlier informed the IAEA that it is maintaining communications with Ukraine鈥檚 operational nuclear power plants, which it said are operating safely and securely.鈥�