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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday that its team at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) heard explosions and saw smoke coming from a nearby location.
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The nuclear plant said one of its auxiliary facilities was attacked today, IAEA said in a statement.
“The auxiliary facility is located 1,200 metres from the ZNPP’s site perimeter and the IAEA team could still see smoke from that direction in the afternoon,” the nuclear watchdog said.
“The auxiliary facility is located 1,200 metres from the ZNPP’s site perimeter and the IAEA team could still see smoke from that direction in the afternoon,” the nuclear watchdog said.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported a deeply concerning incident near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), where its team stationed at the facility heard explosions and observed smoke emanating from a nearby location. This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the volatile situation surrounding the plant and the potential risks to nuclear safety amidst the ongoing conflict.
Incident details
According to the IAEA, the ZNPP informed their on-site team that one of its auxiliary facilities, located approximately 1,200 meters from the plant’s site perimeter, was attacked with shelling and drones. The explosions were heard around the same time as the team observed military activity in the vicinity, according to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Smoke from the affected area was still visible in the afternoon, the nuclear watchdog said.
IAEA’s growing concerns
This incident adds to a long list of concerns raised by the IAEA regarding the ZNPP, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian control since March 2022. Director General Grossi has repeatedly emphasized the need for “maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities” to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident. The agency has highlighted that any attack in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant, regardless of the intended target, poses potential risks to nuclear safety.
A vulnerable position
Despite the plant not currently generating power and its reactors being in a state of cold shutdown, it remains reliant on external electricity to cool its reactors and power other safety systems. The external power supply has been cut multiple times during the conflict, forcing the plant to rely on on-site diesel generators. Furthermore, the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023, which previously supplied water to the plant’s reservoir, has necessitated the digging of wells to ensure adequate cooling water, according to Euronews.com.
The path forward
The persistent military activity near the ZNPP underscores the fragile situation and the continued threat to nuclear safety. The IAEA has been consistently calling for the establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the plant to safeguard it from the ongoing conflict. While efforts have been made to address some safety concerns, such as the installation of wells for cooling water, the ongoing shelling and drone attacks highlight the urgent need for a lasting solution that guarantees the safety and security of the facility. International cooperation and dialogue are paramount to de-escalate tensions around the ZNPP and prevent a potential nuclear disaster that could have catastrophic consequences for the region and beyond.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported a deeply concerning incident near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), where its team stationed at the facility heard explosions and observed smoke emanating from a nearby location. This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the volatile situation surrounding the plant and the potential risks to nuclear safety amidst the ongoing conflict.
Incident details
According to the IAEA, the ZNPP informed their on-site team that one of its auxiliary facilities, located approximately 1,200 meters from the plant’s site perimeter, was attacked with shelling and drones. The explosions were heard around the same time as the team observed military activity in the vicinity, according to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Smoke from the affected area was still visible in the afternoon, the nuclear watchdog said.
IAEA’s growing concerns
This incident adds to a long list of concerns raised by the IAEA regarding the ZNPP, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian control since March 2022. Director General Grossi has repeatedly emphasized the need for “maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities” to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident. The agency has highlighted that any attack in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant, regardless of the intended target, poses potential risks to nuclear safety.
A vulnerable position
Despite the plant not currently generating power and its reactors being in a state of cold shutdown, it remains reliant on external electricity to cool its reactors and power other safety systems. The external power supply has been cut multiple times during the conflict, forcing the plant to rely on on-site diesel generators. Furthermore, the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023, which previously supplied water to the plant’s reservoir, has necessitated the digging of wells to ensure adequate cooling water, according to Euronews.com.
The path forward
The persistent military activity near the ZNPP underscores the fragile situation and the continued threat to nuclear safety. The IAEA has been consistently calling for the establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the plant to safeguard it from the ongoing conflict. While efforts have been made to address some safety concerns, such as the installation of wells for cooling water, the ongoing shelling and drone attacks highlight the urgent need for a lasting solution that guarantees the safety and security of the facility. International cooperation and dialogue are paramount to de-escalate tensions around the ZNPP and prevent a potential nuclear disaster that could have catastrophic consequences for the region and beyond.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported a deeply concerning incident near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), where its team stationed at the facility heard explosions and observed smoke emanating from a nearby location. This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the volatile situation surrounding the plant and the potential risks to nuclear safety amidst the ongoing conflict.
Incident details
According to the IAEA, the ZNPP informed their on-site team that one of its auxiliary facilities, located approximately 1,200 meters from the plant’s site perimeter, was attacked with shelling and drones. The explosions were heard around the same time as the team observed military activity in the vicinity, according to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Smoke from the affected area was still visible in the afternoon, the nuclear watchdog said.
IAEA’s growing concerns
This incident adds to a long list of concerns raised by the IAEA regarding the ZNPP, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian control since March 2022. Director General Grossi has repeatedly emphasized the need for “maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities” to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident. The agency has highlighted that any attack in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant, regardless of the intended target, poses potential risks to nuclear safety.
A vulnerable position
Despite the plant not currently generating power and its reactors being in a state of cold shutdown, it remains reliant on external electricity to cool its reactors and power other safety systems. The external power supply has been cut multiple times during the conflict, forcing the plant to rely on on-site diesel generators. Furthermore, the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023, which previously supplied water to the plant’s reservoir, has necessitated the digging of wells to ensure adequate cooling water, according to Euronews.com.
The path forward