The UN atomic watchdog criticised overnight shelling that severed the power cable powering cooling systems at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine as being “tremendously reckless” and reiterated its proposal for a protective zone.
At the scene of Europe’s largest nuclear facility, shelling has destroyed structures and raised the possibility of a catastrophic nuclear disaster. Russia and Ukraine have placed the blame for this on one another. To stop additional shelling, the International Atomic Energy Agency is advocating for the establishment of a protective zone.
The nuclear fuel at Zaporizhzhia’s six reactors still has to be cooled even when they are off to prevent a nuclear disaster. That need a steady flow of electricity.
“It is incredibly reckless to start shelling again and to target the plant’s sole external power supply. The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant must be safeguarded, according to a statement from Rafael Grossi, the IAEA’s director.
The main 750 kilovolt cable that supplies external electricity to the facility was damaged by shelling at approximately one in the morning, according to an earlier statement by Ukrainian nuclear regulator Energoatom, which the IAEA has now verified. As a result, the reactor resorted to its diesel generators.
Senior Ukrainian operational personnel advised IAEA specialists (stationed at Zaporizhzhia) that all the plant’s safety systems were still receiving electricity and were functioning normally.
The establishment of a protective zone surrounding the plant has been discussed by Grossi with Russia and Ukraine, though he has failed to specify what exactly that would include or how it would be enacted or maintained. He arrived in Kiev on Thursday and is scheduled to depart for Russia early the following week.
“To agree on a nuclear safety and security protection zone surrounding the facility, I will shortly be travelling to the Russian Federation and then returning to Ukraine. Grossi was reported by the IAEA as adding, “This is an essential and urgent requirement.”
