Risk of Nuclear Accident at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Says IAEA Chief

The shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has led to a complete blackout in Enerhodar. Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated in his message that the only guarantee against a nuclear accident is the cessation of bombardments of the plant, as reported by RTVI.

“The shelling has resulted in a complete shutdown of Enerhodar and poses a threat to the safe operation of the nuclear power plant near Zaporizhzhia. This must stop. <…> The power plant cannot be a subject of bargaining during wartime,” he wrote on Twitter.

Grossi emphasized that the supply of electricity to Enerhodar has been interrupted due to the shelling of the city's thermal power plant’s switching equipment. According to Grossi, the situation at the power plant is becoming increasingly dangerous. He reiterated that an immediate cessation of all military operations is the only guarantee that a nuclear accident will not occur.

He noted that restoring stable electricity supply seems unlikely due to the frequent and ongoing shelling that continually damages the plant’s infrastructure. Consequently, the operator of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is considering the possibility of halting the operation of the only functioning reactor. In such a case, the power plant would be entirely dependent on diesel generators for the vital functions of nuclear safety.

The Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, located on the left bank of the Dnieper river, near the city of Enerhodar. Since late February 2022, the power plant has been under the control of Russian troops.