"Each time we are rolling a dice. And if we allow this to
continue time after time then one day our luck will run out,"
Grossi told the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors.
Europe's biggest nuclear power plant lost its last external
power line early on Thursday after missile strikes across
Ukraine overnight.
The plant is now down to emergency diesel generators, a last
line of defence to keep cooling reactor fuel and prevent a
potentially catastrophic meltdown.
As in previous attacks, Russia and Ukraine blamed each other.
Grossi has been trying to get both sides to strike a deal in
which they would pledge not to fire at or from the plant and
heavy weapons would be removed, diplomats say.
"This is the sixth time – let me say it again sixth time, that
ZNPP has lost all off-site power and has had to operate in this
emergency mode," Grossi told the board's quarterly meeting,
according to an IAEA statement.
"Let me remind you – this is the largest nuclear power station
in Europe. What are we doing? How can we sit here in this room
this morning and allow this to happen? This cannot go on. I am
astonished by the complacency."
He said that everyone must commit to protect the plant's safety
and security.
"And we need to commit now. What we need is action," he said.
(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Toby Chopra and Angus
MacSwan)
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