The UN International Atomic Energy Agency is urging for an immediate security zone to be set up at the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia.

This is a necessary step to prevent a nuclear accident, writes the IAEA in a report following last week’s visit to the site.

”The current situation is untenable,” the atomic watchdog writes.

The agency is deeply concerned about continued fighting at the Zaporizhzhia site.

The IAEA report was published on Tuesday after Director General Rafael Grossi and 14 UN inspectors paid a visit to the nuclear power plant last week.

The inspectors spent a few days assessing the physical damages and investigating security systems.

They have also taken a look at the Ukrainian staff’s working conditions.

”Ukrainian staff operating the plant under Russian military occupation are under constant high stress and pressure, especially with the limited staff available,” writes the IAEA, according to Reuters:

”This is not sustainable and could lead to increased human error with implications for nuclear safety.”

Following last week’s visit, Grossi informed that the IAEA aims to have a permanent presence at the site, having two inspectors remain at the nuclear facility going forward.

Russia and Ukraine are accusing one another of perpetrating attacks close to the plant, which is the largest in Europe.

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