International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi has held a series of key meetings in Ukraine as he seeks to start the agency’s technical assistance for the safety and security of the country’s nuclear facilities in the face of Russia’s invasion and occupation of two nuclear sites.

Mr Grossi was at the South Ukraine nuclear station on Wednesday to meet senior Ukrainian government officials as well as staff. He held detailed discussions with energy minister German Galushchenko, head of the nuclear regulatory body Oleg Korikov, head of the operating company Energoatom, Petro Kotin, and the nuclear station’s director Igor Polovych. They reviewed the concrete steps that need to be taken to immediately deliver “urgent assistance” to Ukraine, the IAEA said.

“It is vital to be on the ground in order to provide effective support to Ukraine in these extremely difficult times,” Mr Grossi said. “The IAEA’s onsite presence, where needed, will help prevent the danger of a nuclear accident that could have severe public health and environmental consequences in Ukraine and beyond.”