Head of UN nuclear watchdog arrives in Russia's city of Kaliningrad

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday arrived in the Russian city of Kaliningrad to discuss the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) with a Russian interdepartmental delegation.

The Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) said in a statement that its Director General Alexey Likhachev is heading the Russian delegation at a meeting, which started in Kaliningrad's Khrabrovo airport.

Over the past year and a half, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog has visited Russia multiple times to discuss the situation at the NPP. These meetings have taken place in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, and Sochi.

In March, Grossi visited Sochi, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During their conversation, the IAEA chief urged for maximum military restraint around the NPP. Additionally, they discussed broader aspects of Russia's cooperation with the IAEA.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest and one of the world's 10 biggest, has been under Russian control since March 2022, soon after the start of the Ukraine war.

Since then, fears of a nuclear catastrophe persist as both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of shelling near the plant.

On April 7, Russia accused Kyiv of attacking a reactor building, though nuclear safety was not compromised.