The UN nuclear watchdog has called for an immediate end to all military action near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after it was hit by shelling, shutting down one of the reactors and creating a “very real risk of nuclear disaster”.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he was “extremely concerned” by reports of damage to the plant and called for IAEA experts to inspect the damage.
“I am deeply concerned by yesterday’s bombing of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which underscores the very real risk of a nuclear disaster that could threaten public health and the environment in Ukraine and beyond,” he said.
Ukrainian nuclear company Energoatom said the attack damaged a power cable and forced one of the reactors to shut down, and that “there are still risks of hydrogen and radioactive substance leaks, and the risk of fire as well it’s tall.” The bombing “has caused a serious risk to the safe operation of the plant,” Grossi said.
“Military action that endangers the safety and security of the nuclear power plant is completely unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs. Any military firepower directed at or from the facility would be tantamount to playing with fire, with potentially catastrophic consequences.”
Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter, every weekday morning at 7am BST
Kyiv accuses Russian troops of storing heavy weapons at the plant, which they seized in March and continue to occupy. Moscow, in turn, has accused Ukrainian forces of having attacked there.
Grossi requested that a team of IAEA safety, security and safeguards experts, led by himself, be allowed to visit the plant.
The EU criticized Russia for “military activities” around the plant. “The EU condemns Russia’s military activities around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said. “This is a serious and irresponsible breach of nuclear safety standards and another example of Russia’s disregard for international norms.”