After information regarding the interruption of communications with the nuclear power plant Ukrainian de Zaporojie, the largest in Europedont Russia seized on Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed its “deep concern” on Sunday.
The IAEA, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, said in a statement that Ukraine had informed it that the management of this plant, located in the south-east of the Ukrainian territory, was now under the command of Russian forces.
“Deterioration” of the situation
Kiev also said that the Russian military had cut some mobile and Internet networks and that telephone lines, mailboxes and faxes were no longer working. According to the Ukrainian authorities, only communications by mobile phone are still possible there, but of poor quality, the IAEA said. “I am extremely concerned by these events reported to me today,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
“In order to be able to operate the plant safely, management and staff must be allowed to perform their vital tasks under stable conditions, without interference or undue outside pressure.” In this regard, he said he was “deeply concerned” by “the deterioration of the situation regarding vital communications between the regulatory authority and the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant”. “Reliable communications between regulator and operator are an essential part of overall nuclear safety and security,” he noted.
“Physical and nuclear security” of the plant ensured
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that it “was not his intention to carry out attacks on nuclear power plants”, the French presidency said. The Russian Head of State affirmed on this occasion that “the physical and nuclear security” of the Zaporozhye power plant was ensuredaccording to the Kremlin.
He gave his agreement so that “a dialogue begins between IAEA, Ukraine and Russia so that the power plants are made safe”, noted Paris. The IAEA further reported that Ukraine’s nuclear regulator had informed it that communications with personnel at Ukraine’s Chernobyl power plant – the scene of a major nuclear accident in 1986 – which was taken by Russian soldiers on 24 February, were currently only possible by e-mail.
The fear of a nuclear accident
Its employees would also not be able to perform rotations, which led Rafael Grossi to insist on “the importance for operating personnel to be able to rest in order to carry out their important tasks in complete safety”.
The IAEA boss offered a trip to Ukraine on Friday, hours following Russian forces took control of the Zaporozhye power plant following fighting with Ukrainian troops, which sparked a fire and raised fears of a nuclear accident. Ukraine has four operating nuclear power plants, which provide regarding half of its electricity, as well as nuclear waste repositories such as Chernobyl.
