Deteriorating Nuclear Safety at Zaporizhzhia Power Plant Sparks International Concern
The nuclear safety situation at the Zaporizhzhia power plant in Russian-occupied Ukraine is rapidly deteriorating, according to the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog. Following a recent drone strike near the facility’s perimeter, concerns about the site’s safety have escalated.
Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed his "extreme concern" and urged for "maximum restraint from all sides" to ensure the protection of the plant. The IAEA reported that the drone strike impacted a road close to essential water sprinkler ponds, mere meters from the last operational high-voltage line.
Captured early in the ongoing war, the plant has been subjected to repeated assaults, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces blaming one another for the attacks. Just last week, tensions escalated further when a fire erupted in one of the plant’s cooling towers.
While the IAEA did not assign blame for the recent strike, its team on site indicated that the damage was likely caused by an explosive-carrying drone. The agency’s statement noted frequent explosions and gunfire from various distances around the plant, heightening fears regarding the ongoing military activity in the area.
Currently, the power plant has been non-operational for over two years, with all six reactors in cold shutdown since April.
Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it has attempted to expand its territorial control in the east. However, Ukrainian forces recently surprised Russian troops by gaining a foothold in the Kursk region, prompting a significant evacuation of Russian civilians from the area.
In a strategic move, the head of the Ukrainian air force revealed that a second bridge in Kursk has been destroyed, significantly undermining Russian logistical operations. Earlier, Ukraine also targeted a bridge over the river Seym, which had been essential for supplying Russian forces. This marks a notable development, as it is the first instance since World War Two that foreign troops have engaged on Russian soil.
