Russian armed forces carried out extensive attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure early on 22 March, launching dozens of missiles and drones to inflict severe damage on power plants and grids belonging to the country’s major power company DTEK.
In one of the most difficult days for Ukraine’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion two years ago, two of DTEK’s power stations were put out of action. In total, DTEK temporarily lost around half its available generation capacity.
Then on 9 April a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency via Update 220 from the agency’s director general Rafael Grossi confirmed that drone strikes hit the site of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in a serious incident that endangered nuclear safety and security and brought immediate condemnation from the IAEA’s UN inspectors at the site.
For the first time since November 2022, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was directly targeted in military action that also represents a clear violation of the five basic principles for protecting the facility established by Mr Grossi at the United Nations Security Council in May last year.
“This is a major escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers facing the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. Such reckless attacks significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident and must cease immediately,” said Mr Grossi.
At that point, he said, there are no indications of damage to critical nuclear safety or security systems at the site. However, the military strikes were ‘another stark reminder’ of persistent threats to the ZNPP and other nuclear facilities during the armed conflict, despite the IAEA’s efforts to reduce the risk of a severe accident that could harm people and the environment in Ukraine and beyond.
“As I have repeatedly stated – including at the Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors – no one can conceivably benefit or get any military or political advantage from attacks against nuclear facilities. Attacking a nuclear power plant is an absolute no go,” he said. “I firmly appeal to military decision makers to abstain from any action violating the basic principles that protect nuclear facilities.”
After receiving information from the ZNPP about the drone attacks, the IAEA experts stationed at the site went to three affected locations. They were able to confirm the physical impact of the drone detonations, including at one of the site’s six reactor buildings where surveillance and communication equipment appeared to have been targeted.
The team also reported hearing explosions and rifle fire on the site throughout the day, and heard several rounds of outgoing artillery fire from near the plant.
• All six reactor units of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant are now in cold shutdown for the first time since late 2022 after unit 4 reached this operational state early on 13 April, director general Grossi reported during his recent Update, number 223.
In line with the ZNPP’s plans the plant started transitioning unit 4 from hot to cold shutdown on 12 April. It decided to take this step after the nearby town of Enerhodar – where most plant staff live – recently came to the end of its winter heating season.
“I welcome this development which has been recommended by the Agency for some time, as it enhances the overall safety of the facility. The Agency will continue to closely follow the operational status of theZMPP and provide technically viable alternatives in a context of rapid changes and challenges,” said Mr Grossi.
The ZNPP stopped generating electricity for the national grid in September 2022, but it has kept at least one of its six units in hot shutdown since October 2022 to provide district heating as well as process steam for liquid waste treatment at the site.
After the plant earlier this year started operating four newly-installed diesel steam generators to produce steam for the treatment of such waste, as recommended by the IAEA, reactor unit 4 remained in hot shutdown primarily to help keep Enerhodar warm. The five other reactors were already in cold shutdown.
Although the measure is positive for nuclear safety, the situation remains extremely fragile at a time when Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is facing severe dangers, with several drone strikes having targeted the facility over the previous week.
Image: Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant
Linkedin
