France is ready to support IAEA in technical assistance to Ukraine

France is ready to support the implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) action plan for technical assistance to Ukraine to ensure the safety of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, Report informs citing TASS that the French Foreign Ministry said this on Tuesday.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that "from the onset, they supported the efforts of the IAEA" to ensure the security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, in particular through contacts with the Ukrainian and Russian authorities. At the same time, Paris is "extremely concerned about the risks posed by the Russian aggression for the safety of civilian nuclear facilities" in Ukraine. France "will continue to actively participate in ensuring the success of the IAEA Director-General's initiative," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the director-general of the agency, Rafael Grossi, arrived in Ukraine on a week-long visit, during which he plans, in particular, to visit one of the Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The agency will also send a mission of experts to Ukraine's nuclear facilities. According to Grossi, the IAEA has developed specific and detailed plans to assist Ukraine's nuclear facilities, which include 15 nuclear reactors at four stations, as well as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

As the IAEA reported, Ukraine notified the agency about the loss of control over the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was occupied by the Russian troops, about the transfer of territory around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant under their control. Currently, there is no threat of radiation spread. Grossi called for ensuring the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities in order to prevent radioactive contamination of the area.