This handout photo taken on Sept 1, 2022 and obtained from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sept 7, 2022 shows a general view of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant during an IAEA Support and Assistance Mission in Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine. The IAEA has deployed its permanent monitoring mission at Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant in western Ukraine, thus completing the establishment of its representation in the country, Ukrainian authorities said Tuesday. (HANDOUT / IAEA / AFP)
KYIV – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has deployed its permanent monitoring mission at Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant in western Ukraine, thus completing the establishment of its representation in the country, Ukrainian authorities said Tuesday.
The mission's main tasks are to maintain nuclear and radiation safety at the facility amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said in a statement.
The IAEA's permanent mission's main tasks are to maintain nuclear and radiation safety at the facility amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said in a statement
Last week, the IAEA established its missions at three other nuclear plants, namely Rivne in western Ukraine, Pivdennoukrainsk in the south, and Chernobyl plant in the north, the agency said.
In August last year, the IAEA sent its monitoring mission to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which Russian forces have controlled since March.
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There are five nuclear power plants in Ukraine, four of which are functioning. The Chernobyl power plant, which witnessed a nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986, was completely shut down on Dec 15, 2000.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto hold a joint press conference following talks in Kyiv, on Jan 24, 2023. (SERGEI SUPINSKY / AFP)
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his visiting Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto discussed security issues during their meeting in Kyiv.
Zelensky and Niinisto talked about regional security, the issues that directly affect the security of Ukraine and Finland, and bilateral defense cooperation, according to a statement on the Ukrainian presidential website.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his visiting Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto talked about regional security, the issues that directly affect the security of Ukraine and Finland, and bilateral defense cooperation, according to a statement on the Ukrainian presidential website
Zelensky thanked Finland for providing 12 defense assistance packages for Ukraine and helping in restoring Ukraine's energy sector after the Russian strikes.
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The Ukrainian president informed his Finnish counterpart about the current situation at the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"We also discussed Finland's participation in the coalition of countries aimed to provide Ukraine with modern Western tanks," Zelensky said.
For his part, Niinisto informed that Finland has provided assistance worth almost 600 million euros ($653 million) for Ukraine and has sheltered about 50,000 Ukrainian citizens.
During their talks, the parties also touched upon the issues of Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration and exchanged their views on the Ukrainian Peace Formula proposed by Zelensky in November 2022.
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Niinisto arrived in Ukraine earlier in the day for his first visit since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.