The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is seen on Aug. 4 outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters/FILE)
The “alarming” situation at a Russian-held nuclear power plant in southeast Ukraine had reached a “serious hour”, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Thursday, as he called for an inspection immediately after installation by international experts.
The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, warned that parts of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant had been knocked out by the recent attacks, with the risk of a possible leak of “unacceptable” radiation.
“IAEA experts believe there is no immediate threat to nuclear safety,” but “that could change at any time,” Grossi said.
“Any military action that endangers nuclear security, nuclear safety, must be stopped immediately,” he added. “These military actions near such a large nuclear facility could have very serious consequences.”
Ukraine and Russia blame each other: The Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, occupies a sprawling site on the Dnipro River near the Russian-held town of Enerhodar. It has continued to operate at a reduced capacity since Russian forces captured it in early March, and Ukrainian technicians are still working.
Russia and Ukraine have so far refused to agree to an IAEA inspection of the plant and have accused each other of bombing the facility, an action the IAEA has said violates “indispensable pillars of nuclear safety and security “.
Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, blamed Ukraine for the bombing on Thursday and urged supporters of Kyiv to halt the attacks and prevent a disastrous radiation leak.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed the finger at Moscow, which he said was endangering all of Europe.
“Only the complete withdrawal of the Russians from the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the restoration of Ukraine’s full control over the situation around the plant will ensure the restoration of nuclear security for all of Europe,” Zelensky said.
More shelling: Ukraine’s nuclear agency Energoatom said on Thursday that 10 shells landed near the complex, preventing a delivery of the shift.
“For the safety of nuclear workers, the buses with the staff of the next shift were returned to Enerhodar,” the agency said. “Until the situation finally normalizes, workers from the previous shift will continue to work.”
Energoatom said radiation levels at the site remained normal, despite the new attacks.
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