The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, who arrived in Ukraine the day before, is visiting Yuzhnoukrainsk NPP in Pervomaisk (Mykolaiv region) on Wednesday.

"I'm at South Ukraine [Yuzhnoukrainsk] Nuclear Power Plant to meet Ukrainian gov't officials and staff, and start IAEA technical assistance for safety and security of country's nuclear facilities. Vital to be on the ground to provide effective support to Ukraine in these extremely difficult times," he wrote on Twitter.

He said that he personally thanked the Yuzhnoukrainsk Nuclear Power Plant staff for their endurance and resilience during these extremely difficult times. He added that IAEA's on-site presence will help prevent the danger of a nuclear accident that could have severe public health and environmental consequences in Ukraine and beyond.

"Staff of all Ukrainian nuclear facilities deserve full respect and admiration for keeping sites running in a safe and secure way amid conflict," Grossi said.