Security at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains fragile amid worrying recent staff cuts enacted by Russian authorities occupying the facility, which is one of the 10 biggest atomic power plants in the world, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief said Tuesday. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi, who is in Kyiv, told The Associated Press that his upcoming visit to the plant as the war approaches its two-year milestone will aim to assess the impact of recent personnel reductions after Russia denied access to employees of Ukraine’s Energoatom.
Quick Read
- UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, highlights fragile security at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant amid significant staff reductions by Russian occupiers.
- Grossi, in Kyiv, plans to visit the plant to assess impacts of personnel cuts after Russia denied access to Ukrainian Energoatom employees.
- Staff at the plant reduced from around 12,000 to 2,000-3,000, raising concerns about the ability to operate such a complex facility.
- Grossi’s visit aims to examine staffing levels, medium-term and long-term prospects amidst a delicate equilibrium at the plant.
- EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, visits Kyiv to discuss military aid, financial support, and Ukraine’s EU membership ambitions.
- EU pledges 50 billion euros in support for Ukraine, but military aid falls short amid ammunition shortages and Russian pressure.
- Concerns arise over further US support for Ukraine, its largest aid supplier.
- Zaporizhzhia plant’s safety remains a concern, with reactors shut down but still requiring power for cooling systems and safety features.
- Grossi to check cooling system stability following the Kakhovka Dam collapse and mine presence around the plant.
- Recent blackout at the plant underscores ongoing nuclear safety concerns amid nearby battles.
- Russian authorities block access for Ukrainian staff, leading to a workforce comprising former Energoatom employees who accepted Russian citizenship.
- Staff reduction attributed to fleeing workers, reluctance to work under occupation, and refusal to work for Russia.
- Plant’s six reactors shut down for 18 months, still holding nuclear fuel requiring cooling, with alternative water sources being developed post-dam collapse.
- Grossi plans meetings with Ukrainian officials and a visit to Moscow for discussions with Russian officials.
- Access limitations for IAEA experts at the plant, with certain areas off-limits and anti-personnel mines observed between perimeter fences.
- In related news, a Russian missile strike in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region kills a 2-month-old infant and injures three women.
- Russian Defense Ministry reports downing all seven drones launched from Ukraine toward Russia’s Belgorod region.
- Extra security measures implemented in four Russian Baltic Sea ports due to risks from Ukrainian drone attacks.
The Associated Press has the story:
IAEA Chief: Security is still fragile at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
Newslooks- KYIV, Ukraine (AP) —
Security at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains fragile amid worrying recent staff cuts enacted by Russian authorities occupying the facility, which is one of the 10 biggest atomic power plants in the world, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief said Tuesday.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi, who is in Kyiv, told The Associated Press that his upcoming visit to the plant as the war approaches its two-year milestone will aim to assess the impact of recent personnel reductions after Russia denied access to employees of Ukraine’s Energoatom.
“This huge facility used to have around 12,000 staff. Now, this has been reduced to between 2,000 and 3,000, which is quite a steep reduction in the number of people working there,” Grossi said. “To man, to operate these very sophisticated big installations you need a certain number of people performing different specific functions.”
“So far the situation is stable, but it is a very, very delicate equilibrium,” he said. “So this is why I need to see for myself what is the situation, what are the prospects in terms of staffing, medium-term and long-term as well.”
Grossi’s visit coincided with the arrival in the Ukrainian capital of the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, who said he was there to discuss military aid and financial support as well as Ukraine’s ambition of joining the bloc.
The 27 EU countries agreed last week to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in support for its ailing economy. But the EU’s military backing is falling short, leaving Ukraine’s forces grappling with ammunition shortages while Russia uses its economic muscle to keep up the pressure with probing ground and air attacks.
At the same time, a question mark remains over further help for Ukraine from the United States, its biggest supplier.
That has made the early months of this year a critical juncture for Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated he is mulling a broad shake-up of the country’s leadership to bring “fresh energy” to the fight.
The IAEA has repeatedly expressed alarm about the Zaporizhzhia facility amid fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe. The plant has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and seized the facility shortly after.
The plant’s six reactors have been shut down for months, but it still needs power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features.
Rossi said he would also check the stability of the facility’s cooling function in the wake of the Kakhovka Dam collapse over the summer, and the presence of mines in and around the plant.
The plant suffered yet another blackout last month, highlighting continuing nuclear safety concerns as battles rage nearby.
“All these things tell us that the situation in Zaporizhzhia continues to be fragile and it requires constant care,” Grossi said.
Of particular concern is the Russian decision to block access for Ukrainian staff employed by Kyiv’s national operator, who refused to sign contracts with the Russian operator at the site.
The staff working at the plant now are former Energoatom workers who adopted Russian citizenship and signed new contracts with Russia’s operator at the site.
Reasons for the staff reduction vary. Some workers fled, many didn’t want to remain in occupied territory and those who decided to remain did not want to work for Russia.
“Some did continue working, and my Russian counterparts are telling me that they are signing up more and more people. So it’s something that we need to check,” said Grossi.
The plant’s six reactors have been shut down for nearly 18 months and produce no electricity but still hold large amounts of nuclear fuel that must be cooled. The collapse of the dam in June jeopardized access to the reservoir where water was drawn for cooling. To compensate, the plant administration dug wells. “Now we want to see how this has evolved,” Grossi said.
He is to meet with Ukrainian officials before heading to the plant. He is also due to travel to Moscow for talks with officials there.
Access to the entire plant facility for IAEA experts permanently based there is still limited, with Russian authorities denying requests to see certain areas.
Grossi confirmed his team observed anti-personnel mines in some areas of the plant, another cause for concern that he needs to see with his own eyes. He added, however, that the mines appear to be placed between the two perimeter fences.
“We say mines at a nuclear power plant are not advisable, but what we see is that the placement and the type of mines would not pose an immediate danger to the facility.”
In other developments:
— A Russian missile strike killed a 2-month-old infant and injured three women in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region on Tuesday morning, regional authorities said.
— The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday its forces brought down all seven drones launched from Ukraine toward Russia’s Belgorod region overnight.
Elsewhere, four Russian Baltic Sea ports have brought in extra security measures due to the continuing risk from Ukrainian drone attacks, according to documents published Tuesday on the local port authority’s website.
Both Ukraine and Russia have increasingly relied on long-range attacks as fighting remains largely static along the 1,500-kilometer (900-mile) front line.
