Reports of remarks from the top of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, as he showed up at Chernobyl raised new worries about the previous power plant.
He was talking about a situation that was potentially dangerous when Russian forces occupied the site (they have since left).
He replied: “I don’t know if we were very close to disaster, but the situation was absolutely abnormal and very, very dangerous.”
Radiation levels were raised by the development of soil brought about by large equipment and the digging of channels, and they stay higher than typical. Yet, it is felt that they are not hazardously high.
Experts believe that other than slightly elevated levels of background radiation, the inherent safety of the site has not been affected by the invasion.
The IAEA mission is there to find out whether that is the case and to check that no nuclear material has left the site to be used for military purposes. Independent, expert verification of those facts by the nuclear watchdog will be a huge relief to the international community.
