DISINFO: The IAEA proved that Kyiv lied about the fire at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
SUMMARY
International Atomic Energy Agency experts have found no traces of burning tyres at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after a fire in the cooling tower. However, Kyiv had accused Russia of burning them.
The Ukrainian side, as usual, stated that the responsibility for the fire lies with Russia. The IAEA briefing report clearly refuted the Ukrainian version. Thus, the Ukrainian fake news was exposed within 24 hours.
The cooling tower was severely damaged on August 11 as a result of direct strikes by Ukrainian forces. The group called Kiev's attacks an act of nuclear terrorism.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) occupied by Russian armed forces.
The IAEA's observations do not support these allegations. Indeed, the IAEA visited the site of the fire and observed pictures and footage taken by ZNPP staff of the fire damage to the interior of the tower from the water nozzle distribution level, which is approximately 10 metres high. Update 244 from the IAEA Director General statement on the situation in Ukraine states the following:
From the photos and footage of the cooling tower’s interior, the team identified debris consistent with a significant fire and observed dark scorch marks across the interior of the concrete walls rising from the water nozzle distribution level. No foreign objects or materials were visible.
The team has requested access to the second of the two cooling towers at the plant in order to see inside the structure and identify similar materials and specifications which may have been present in cooling tower 1 prior to the fire.
During its walkdown and just after requesting access to cooling tower 2, the ISAMZ team was promptly accompanied back to a secure location due to an air raid alarm.
"Obtaining access to the water nozzle distribution level would be important for the team to obtain a better understanding of the events and other relevant circumstances. The Agency will continue to request this as part of our role to monitor compliance with the five concrete principles for the protection of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant”
The Ukrainian Energoatom National Atomic Energy Generating Company, earlier communicated that the likely cause was the negligence of the Russian invaders or a deliberate arson attack at the cooling tower.
The IAEA did not rule out the possibility of negligence or a deliberate arson attack. It only stated that no unburned foreign material was visible. A visit to the second cooling tower was denied, making it impossible to explain which material is likely to have burned and produced the deep black smoke visible during the fire.
Read also related cases such as: Ukraine fires drones at nuclear power plant, or Ukraine has become a failed self-hated state due to its neo-Nazi ideology, or The IAEA is satisfied with the state of the Zaporizhzhia NPP under Russian control.