Russian occupiers denied access to the reactor hall of power unit No. 6 of the Zaporizhia NPP to a new group of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who arrived at the station after rotation on January 11 and submitted a corresponding request, according to the IAEA website.

"These restrictions on the experts’ timely access to the ZNPP are impeding the IAEA's ability to assess the safety and security situation, including confirming the reported status of the reactor units, spent fuel ponds and associated safety equipment, independently and effectively," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

As the agency said, the Russians said that the reactor hall was "sealed" and proposed that the team access the area in about a week's time.

In December 2023, the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to the ZNPP (ISAMZ) team was refused access to the reactor hall of units 1, 2 and 6 which was the first time that the IAEA experts have not been granted timely access to a reactor hall that was in cold shutdown. Also, since 18 October last year, ISAMZ teams have been unable to access parts of the turbine hall of each unit. Most recently, access was again restricted at the turbine halls of units 1 and 2 on Wednesday, 10 January.

Acting Board Chairman of NNEGC Energoatom Petro Kotin said that the Russian occupiers are doing everything to hide information about the real situation at the Zaporizhia NPP, and another fact of denial of access to the IAEA mission units confirms this.

"The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant must be returned to the control of its legal operator, Energoatom, as quickly as possible. This is the only way to guarantee the safety of Europe's largest nuclear facility. And the Russian occupiers and those who help them must be punished, because they endanger the whole world," Kotin said.