The demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is the goal of Ukrainian and international efforts, President of the country has said in his nightly video address.

“The IAEA mission arrived at Zaporizhzhia NPP. Ukraine did everything to make this mission happen. But it is bad that the occupiers are trying to turn this IAEA mission into a fruitless tour of the plant.

It is good that the IAEA representatives have an opportunity to draw objective conclusions about the risks that have arisen at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for the first time in history. Moreover, the risks that have arisen precisely because of the occupiers.

We have clear evidence that Russia did a lot of cynical things to deceive the mission. In particular, with the help of intimidation of residents of Enerhodar. The occupiers forced people to lie to the IAEA representatives - to hand over some papers, sign something, say something.

When we met with Mr. Grossi and members of the mission in Kyiv, we agreed that the mission would be accompanied by journalists from Ukrainian and international media. Independent journalists. For the world to see the truth. To see what is really happening. Unfortunately, this wasn’t done. Although it was promised. Unfortunately, the occupiers did not let the journalists in, but organized a bunch of their propagandists. Unfortunately, the IAEA representatives did not protect the representatives of independent media.

We are hopeful that the mission will nevertheless draw objective conclusions from the circumstances at the plant. For more than 3 decades, 5 facilities have been under the control of our specialists - the Chornobyl plant and 4 operational nuclear power plants. The IAEA never had any claims regarding the activities of any of these facilities until Russia invaded our territory. When the Russian military finally leave the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, plant will be able to return to a completely safe functioning, which has always been the case under the control of Ukraine.

And the key thing that should happen is the demilitarization of the territory of the plant. This is exactly the goal of Ukrainian and international efforts”, - said Volodymyr Zelensky.