Security is ‘fragile’ at Ukraine nuclear plant says IAEA chief
Security at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains fragile amid worrying recent staff cuts enacted by Russian authorities occupying the facility, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief has said.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi, who is in Kyiv, said 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.
The plant is one of the 10 biggest atomic power plants in the world.
“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,” Mr 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.
“So this is why I need to see for myself what is the situation, what are the prospects in terms of staffing, mediumterm and long-term as well.”
Mr 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 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 Zelensky 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 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 February 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.
Mr Grossi 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,” Mr Grossi said.
So far the situation is stable, but it is a very, very delicate equilibrium Rafael Grossi, above