UN nuclear team in Zaporizhzhia limbo as Russia narrows access to plant

The Guardian ^ | August 31, 2022 | Luke Harding

[Timber Rattler]

Uncertainty hangs over the planned visit to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant by a team from the UN nuclear watchdog, as inspectors arrived in Ukrainian-controlled Zaporizhzhia city on Wednesday, where they are likely to spend the night before crossing the frontline.

The International Atomic Energy Agency mission into Russian-controlled territory, which comprises representatives from countries deemed neutral by both sides, was reportedly intended to last four days.

But on Wednesday, the Russian-occupying authorities said the IAEA would be given access for one day. They also said the mission would be expected to join the queue of civilians who cross back and forth between territory controlled by Ukraine and Russia. If that happens, it could delay or disrupt the visit.

These potential obstacles come in addition to safety concerns. Ukraine and Russia have given their security guarantees for the mission to travel to the plant and the neighbouring areas, Rafael Grossi, the head of the agency, said before leaving Kyiv.

(snip)

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the mission would spend four days at the plant. But on Wednesday, Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of the Russian-installed Zaporizhzhia administration, a Russian-appointed official, was quoted by the Russian news agency Interfax as saying the delegates would be given only one day at the facility.

Adding to the suspense, a member of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia administration said the mission would not be given priority and would have to wait in a queue to cross the frontline into the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia province.

[Rockingham]

Rossi has now left, and is reported as saying that: “I worry, and I will continue to be worried about the plant until we have a situation which is more stable, which is more predictable. It is obvious that the plant and the physical integrity of the plant has been violated several times by chance [and] by deliberation.”

[GOPJ]

If a meltdown was happening we’d all know it by now.

[ought-six]

“I don’t know how many inspectors there are, but a Physical damage assessment can occur, decently, via satellite and drone.”

A drone or satellite can detect EXTERIOR damage, but NOT what damage is INSIDE a structure and how that damage affects the immediate environment, including worker safety. Moreover, damage is not always confined to the situs of the blast, especially if electronics and systems are involved.

You apply a very simplistic view to something that is anything but simplistic.

[ought-six]

Binkov’s Battlegrounds is your evidence? Are you serious? By its own admission it just supposes various scenarios, and hypothesizes wars. It’s all play. It has no concrete evidence AT ALL that US personnel are firing HIMARS at Russian assets, which you unequivocally claimed.

From its own website: “Binkov’s Battlegrounds is a Croatian team consisting of three people with a major interest in military history, represented by a sock puppet aptly named Binkov.” Its Mission Statement: “Binkov’s Battlegrounds is an enterprise seeking to educate and ENTERTAIN (the caps are mine).”

Admit it, you have no objective evidence at all to support your claim. If you were bringing your claim to court, the judge would dismiss your claim with prejudice.