IAEA reports new risks at ZNPP due to drones and power supply issues

The Zaporizhzhia NPP remains dependent on a single external power line, and the IAEA is negotiating a ceasefire for repairs. This was stated by the agency's Director General Rafael Grossi, UNN reports.

Details

According to the IAEA, after losing the connection to the main 750 kV "Dniprovska" power line on March 24, the ZNPP relies on the 330 kV "Ferrosplavna-1" backup line. It is this line that provides the plant with external power supply. During this period, the loss of external power supply was recorded three times at the ZNPP site.

IAEA teams working at Ukrainian nuclear facilities continue to report high levels of military activity near nuclear power plants and the cities where personnel reside. On Sunday, they received a report at the ZNPP from the plant management regarding a suspected drone strike on a transport unit garage located approximately four kilometers from the main site.

During a visit to the transport workshop on Monday, experts indeed saw a significant hole in the concrete roof of the garage and a large crater on the floor. According to the team's assessment, this indicated a powerful impact. In turn, the ZNPP reported that four buses used to transport plant personnel were damaged as a result of the incident.

The plant later informed the IAEA team that after its visit, another transport unit garage had allegedly come under drone attack.

Attacks on nuclear power plant personnel, wherever they occur, create unacceptable psychological pressure with potentially serious consequences for nuclear safety and security

He also once again called for maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities.

What else the IAEA reported

This week, the IAEA team at the ZNPP learned of reports regarding several drone attacks near the plant and in Enerhodar, where most of the NPP personnel live. According to one report, up to 40 drones could have been used near the site.

The team was also informed that on Saturday, a drone with explosives allegedly fell near the turbine hall of reactor unit No. 1 but did not detonate. According to the plant, there were no casualties or damage.

At the same time, the agency noted that the team was unable to confirm this report, as the ZNPP informed it of the incident only two days later. By that time, according to the plant, all debris had already been cleared.

Also on Thursday, the ZNPP informed the IAEA of a communication failure at one of the external radiation monitoring stations. The cause of the problem has not yet been established. Meanwhile, several radiation monitoring stations on and off the site continue to transmit daily radiation monitoring data to the IAEA.

Situation at other NPPs

Following the intensification of military activity near Ukraine's three operating nuclear power plants and the Chornobyl NPP last week, IAEA teams continued to report frequent air raid alerts and the presence of drones near these facilities.

In particular, drones were reported at the South Ukraine NPP on Saturday, as well as at the Chornobyl NPP late Sunday evening and early Monday morning. On Monday, the Khmelnytskyi NPP team was in a shelter on the plant's territory during an air raid alert.

The presence of drones and explosives at a nuclear power plant is unacceptable, as it sharply increases the already significant risks to nuclear safety

Recall

At the end of April, the occupied ZNPP reported the death of a driver near the plant due to a drone strike.