Teams of nuclear safety and security experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency have been stationed at the South Ukraine, Rivne and Chernobyl nuclear sites in Ukraine as the Vienna-based UN agency seeks to expand efforts to help reduce the risk of a severe nuclear accident during the conflict in the country.

IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi launched on Tuesday (17 January) an IAEA support and assistance mission at Rivne (Rovno) at a flag-raising ceremony at the facility in western Ukraine. The ceremony came a day after he deployed a similar team at the South Ukraine nuclear power station an eight-hour drive away.

“IAEA flag is now flying at Ukraine’s Pivdennoukrainsk (South Ukraine nuclear power plant),” Grossi said on Twitter. “We are here to stay to help ensure nuclear safety & security during ongoing conflict. Soon IAEA will be permanently present at all Ukraine NPPs.”