IAEA Warns of Nuclear Accident Risk at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned of a nuclear accident risk at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant due to prolonged electricity outages. "The plant's backup diesel generators have enough fuel for only 10 days. The shutdown of backup systems could lead to nuclear fuel melting," the statement reads.

The plant has been disconnected from the power grid due to Russian shelling, and electricity is currently supplied by diesel generators. This is an emergency situation. The generators and the plant are not designed for this type of operation and have never operated for such a lengthy period in this mode. There are already reports that one of the generators has malfunctioned," wrote President Volodymyr Zelensky in his Telegram channel.

He also emphasized that Russian shelling hampers the repair of power transmission lines and the restoration of basic safety. "This is a threat to absolutely everyone. No terrorist in the world has ever dared to do what Russia is doing with the nuclear plant. And it is true that the world is not silent about it. I held a meeting with military officials and the Ministry of Energy. I instructed the government to work with Ukraine's Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to draw as much global attention as possible to this situation," the Ukrainian president added.