The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, is in Ukraine for the 10th time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war to address safety concerns at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe. Grossi expressed his mission to prevent a potential nuclear accident at the plant following recent attacks in the vicinity.
Reports from the plant’s operator, Energoatom, indicated that artillery shelling damaged the power access to the nuclear facility the day prior. One of the external overhead power lines connecting the plant to the Ukrainian power system was affected, raising concerns about a possible emergency situation if the second line is also damaged due to the threat of ongoing shelling in the area.
While analysts suggest that a potential explosion at the Zaporizhzhia plant could lead to radiation exposure and public alarm, they also indicate that the radiation risk beyond the immediate blast zone would likely be limited, unlike the magnitude of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. There’s a concern that if the wind blows eastward, radiation could drift towards Russia.
The situation at the Zaporizhzhia region is exacerbated by Russia’s partial and unlawful annexation of the area, along with Donetsk, Kherson, and Luhansk, as well as the reported attacks and grid damages that threaten the power supply crucial for Ukraine’s nuclear power stations. The IAEA staff in Zaporizhzhia had to seek shelter due to drone threats in the vicinity.
Aside from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine operates three other active nuclear plants. Grossi, accompanied by a team of IAEA experts, initiated discussions in Kyiv, meeting with the Minister of Energy, Herman Halushchenko. The regional capital, Zaporizhzhia, faced tragedy as a Russian airstrike hit a hotel, resulting in casualties, including the death of an 8-year-old boy and a woman, with others injured.
The ongoing situation in Ukraine, particularly at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, remains a focal point for international concern and efforts to ensure the safety and security of the facility and surrounding areas.
