UN atomic energy watchdog releases statement after impact likely caused by drone strike damages on plant’s perimeter
KYIV, UKRAINE: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Saturday that the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine has been severely jeopardized following a recent drone attack. The drone, which carried an explosive payload, struck a road just outside the plant’s perimeter within a Russian-controlled area.
This attack underscores the escalating risks faced by critical infrastructure amid ongoing conflict. The IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia confirmed that the drone detonated approximately 100 meters from the Dniprovska power line, the sole remaining 750-kilovolt transmission line supplying electricity to the facility. This power line is essential for maintaining the plant’s operational stability and cooling systems, crucial for preventing overheating and ensuring reactor safety.
Although the explosion damaged the road connecting the plant’s two main entrances, it did not directly affect the plant’s operational equipment or result in casualties. However, the proximity of the blast to vital cooling water sprinkler ponds, which are integral to the plant’s emergency cooling system, raises serious concerns about potential future incidents that could directly impact safety.
IAEA inspectors confirmed the use of an explosive-laden drone, highlighting the severe implications for nuclear safety. The incident occurred amid a backdrop of increased military activity around the plant over the past week, further intensifying the risks associated with the ongoing conflict.
IAEA Chief Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed deep concern over the escalating threats to nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia. He reiterated the importance of adhering to the five key principles established to safeguard the plant: ensuring physical protection, avoiding military operations in the vicinity, maintaining operational integrity, providing necessary safeguards, and ensuring timely and accurate communication regarding any incidents.
The drone attack at Zaporizhzhia highlights the growing dangers faced by nuclear facilities situated in conflict zones. It underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and stringent measures to protect such facilities from both military threats and potential accidents.
The IAEA continues to call for the protection of nuclear sites to prevent any nuclear safety crises amidst the ongoing hostilities. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of military actions near sensitive nuclear infrastructure and the critical need for international oversight and collaboration to prevent nuclear disasters in conflict-ridden areas.
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