The UN’s nuclear watchdog warns that Ukraine’s nuclear security situation is ‘very challenging’
Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) – also the largest nuclear energy facility in Europe – fell under Russia’s control immediately after the country launched a comprehensive military campaign in February 2022.
In recent days, one IAEA team of experts has crossed the frontline to replace colleagues at the Zaporizhzhya plant, who have been monitoring nuclear safety and security since September 2022. The presence of “IAEA Support and assistance mission” at ZNPP and four other nuclear facilities to “help prevent radiological accidents during military conflicts”, IAEA said in one declare.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said: “We will remain at these locations for as long as necessary to help prevent the risk of a nuclear accident that could have serious consequences for human health and safety. environment in Ukraine and beyond”. “As the nuclear safety and security situation remains challenging, our experts are continuing to play a critical stabilization role at all of these facilities.”
Media reports say skirmishes and drone attacks are taking place in the vicinity of the Zaporizhyzhya plant in southeastern Ukraine.
Conflict is always present
“Over the past week, the team continued to hear frequent explosions, some distance from ZNPP.. The IAEA said no damage to ZNPP was reported. Safety and security at four other Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine nuclear power plants as well as the Chornobyl site reported safety and security at four other Ukrainian nuclear plants, the agency’s teams said. “are being maintained despite the effects of the ongoing conflict, including air raid alerts.” for several days in the past week.”
At the Zaporizhzhya plant, the IAEA said it has been informed that two backup transformers have returned to service after successful high-voltage testing, while the remaining four backup transformers will undergo maintenance in end of this year.
The IAEA expert group also reported discussing winter preparations for the plant and received confirmation that all six reactors will remain offline.
The IAEA expert group also reported discussing winter preparations for the plant and received confirmation that all six reactors will remain offline.
The humanitarian crisis is increasingly serious
The latest updates from UN aid groups have highlighted the deepening humanitarian crisis across Ukraine, especially in frontline areas in the northeast, east and south. south, due to “intensified attacks” by Russian forces. United Nations human rights monitors have verified more than 1,400 dead and injured since Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
“Humanitarian response efforts face increasing challenges, including safety risks. “Six aid workers were killed or injured in July and August alone.” the United Nations aid coordination office said OCHA. It noted that in the first nine months of the year, the humanitarian community provided at least one form of assistance to 7.2 million of the 8.5 million people targeted for assistance.
This regardless Humanitarian appeal 2024 Ukraine received less than half of the requested $3.11 billion.
OCHA warns: “Remaining civilians in frontline communities in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Khersons, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhya oblasts face poor living conditions, which are expected to worsen as the season progresses. Winter is approaching”.
Continued attacks on energy infrastructure “are expected to exacerbate the challenges that civilians will face in the coming winter,” the UN agency continued, emphasizing potential disruption to essential services such as water, gas and heating.
