Russia has agreed to allow inspectors access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after a period of sharply rising tensions over the condition of the facility. Russian forces took control of the nuclear plant immediately after the invasion of Ukraine and have held it since early March. The two sides continued to battle over control of the plant, prompting international concern of an impending disaster. Moscow had resisted calls to allow inspectors access to the plant to verify it remained safe, but Russian President Vladimir Putin changed his mind on Friday after a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. Putin said International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts would have support from both Russian and French authorities to provide “the necessary assistance”, the BBC reported. US TO SUPPLY UKRAINE M982 EXCALIBUR AMMUNITION AS PART OF BIDEN’S NEW $75 MILLION ARMS PACKAGE: REPORT “In this highly volatile and fragile situation, it is vital that no new measures are taken that could further jeopardize the safety and security of one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants,” said Rafael Grossi, IAEA director-general. . The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine is the largest nuclear power plant not only in Ukraine but also in Europe. (Dmytro Smolyenko/Future Publishing via Getty Images) Russia had begun using the power plant as a base from which to launch missile attacks on neighboring cities, once again prompting international authorities to worry about a possible nuclear disaster. Some families began evacuating the area, according to the Washington Post. UKRAINE FEARS INCREASED RUSSIAN ATTACK AFTER PUTIN ALLY LOSES DAUGHTER IN ALLEGED ASSASSINATION Ukrainian officials raised concerns before the weekend that Russia could cut power to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, putting both sides on the brink of an increased provocation. Russian diplomats have submitted a letter to the United Nations accusing the Ukrainians of shelling the power plant. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is pictured in Enerhodar, Ukraine, on April 9, 2013. (Reuters/stringer) “There is information that the Russian occupation forces plan to close the power blocks and disconnect them from the supply lines to the Ukrainian electricity system in the near future,” Ukraine’s nuclear power agency Energoatom said in a statement on Friday, which was first reported by Reuters. RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN ALLEGED SPIES FOR KREMLIN ARRESTED AT BASE IN ALBANIA AFTER GUARDS DROWNED IN CHEMICAL AGENT “The potential threat from Europe’s largest nuclear power plant could be ten times the scale of the Fukushima and Chernobyl disasters,” the agency added. A view of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine, on June 12, 2008. (Reuters/stringer) Russian officials have completely rejected moves to demilitarize the power plant despite granting access to inspectors. Russia’s foreign ministry said on Friday that such a move would leave the plant “more vulnerable”. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Russians also denied keeping weapons at the plant. Caitlin McFall of Fox News contributed to this report. Peter Aitken is a Fox News Digital reporter with a focus on national and global news.
