The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced the problem of postponing the rotation of its mission at the occupied Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZAEP) due to the lack of adequate security guarantees from Russia. It message was made by Heorhiy Tychy, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. According to him, Russia actively uses blackmail methods to intimidate international experts and undermine their independence. In particular, during one of the previous missions, Russia carried out an offensive drone attack on an IAEA vehicle, which clearly demonstrates the level of threats faced by international observers in the occupied territories.
Tykhi also noted that the Kremlin has two main goals in its actions regarding the IAEA. First, Russia is trying to force the international community to recognize the illegal occupation of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant. Second, the Kremlin seeks to manipulate the situation around the station, creating threats to nuclear safety, in order to gain certain advantages in negotiations and political maneuvers.
Ukraine considers such actions of the Kremlin unacceptable and emphasizes that it will not allow Russia to realize these intentions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized the importance of supporting the independence of the IAEA and called on the international community to strongly condemn pressure from Russia.
Grossi’s eleventh visit to Ukraine
The IAEA, in its turn, continues its work in the difficult conditions of occupation and constant threats related to the situation at the ZNPP. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently made his eleventh visit to Ukraine, during which measures to prevent a nuclear accident against the background of the ongoing war were discussed. Important high-level meetings were also planned in Kyiv to discuss the current state of security at Ukrainian nuclear facilities and prospects for ensuring peace in this matter.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, in his address during the meeting with Grossi, emphasized the importance of the rotation of the IAEA mission at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Zelenskyi also expressed hope that the IAEA will step up its efforts to free Ukrainian citizens who are in Russian captivity on the territory of the ZNPP. These issues are important not only from the point of view of the safety of nuclear facilities, but also for the humanitarian situation in the region.
In general, the situation around the Zaporizhzhya NPP remains one of the most urgent international issues, as any escalation at this facility could lead to catastrophic consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for the whole world.
The head of the IAEA threatens with a nuclear accident
During another visit to Ukraine, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, on the X network (Twitter) wrote:
“I am at the Kyiv substation, which is an important component of Ukraine’s energy system and critically necessary for ensuring nuclear safety. Interruptions in the supply of electricity, as well as direct hits to the stations, can cause nuclear accidents.”
Raphael Grossi also emphasized that “the increasingly vulnerable network poses a growing risk not only for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, but also for all nuclear power plants of Ukraine.” He warned that constant attacks on energy infrastructure, in particular on power lines that ensure the operation of nuclear power plants, create additional threats to nuclear safety. Power outages can lead to serious technical problems, including shutting down reactor cooling systems, which can trigger accidents. It also jeopardizes the safety of personnel and local communities near nuclear facilities.
Greenpeace warns against the illegal restart of reactors at the ZNPP
As Kyiv Independent reported, Greenpeace in Ukraine urged The International Atomic Energy Agency to take measures to prevent Russia from illegally restarting the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The appeal was made in the context of a visit by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to Kyiv, where he held meetings with Ukrainian officials before heading to Moscow for talks with the Russian authorities.
Zaporizhzhia NPP, which is the largest nuclear facility in Europe, was captured by Russian troops back in March 2022. Since then, the station has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid due to Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure, which significantly increases the probability of a nuclear disaster.
The growing risks to Ukraine’s energy network require immediate attention of the international community, as a shortage of stable energy supply can have far-reaching consequences that go beyond local problems and threaten regional and global security.
Greenpeace has warned Rafael Grossi that Russian officials have recently announced their intention to restart the reactors of the ZNPP in order to produce electricity for Russia’s needs. Such actions contribute to the strengthening of Russian control over the station and increase the risks for nuclear security in the region. The organization urged the IAEA to take all possible measures to prevent such actions and to ensure control over the situation in order to avoid an environmental and nuclear disaster.
In December 2024, Oleksiy Likhachev, the general director of Rosatom, stated that for the Russian state nuclear company, restarting the reactors of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is a kind of “dream”. Meanwhile, Serhiy Kiriyenko, the first deputy head of the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressed that Moscow intends to restore the reactors as soon as possible to meet Russia’s energy needs and strengthen control over the plant.
Such statements indicate Russia’s intention to use the ZNPP for its own energy purposes, despite international calls to ensure safety at the facility. These plans significantly increase tensions in the region, because restarting reactors without proper control by international organizations could lead to serious threats to nuclear safety. It is also part of Russia’s strategy to strengthen its influence in the occupied territories and in the field of energy.
Information about such intentions of Russia causes concern in the international community, including organizations such as the IAEA, which call for full compliance with safety standards and the restoration of control over the station by the Ukrainian authorities.
Thus, for Greenpeace, restarting the reactors at the ZNPP is a serious threat not only from the point of view of nuclear safety, but also in the context of the environmental and political situation that threatens stability in the region.
The IAEA continues to care about nuclear safety
The mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency began its work at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on September 1, 2022. It is composed of 14 international experts led by CEO Rafael Grossi. The main goal was to assess the state of nuclear security at the station, which has been under the control of the Russian military since March 2022.
During the inspection, specialists noted the presence of Russian military equipment and personnel on the territory of the ZNPP, which is contrary to the basic principles of safe operation of nuclear facilities. Based on the results of the inspection, the IAEA called for the creation of a nuclear safety zone around the station and an immediate cessation of hostilities in the area. In its report, the organization emphasized the critical need to ensure the stable operation of the nuclear facility and protect it from further risks.
Despite the difficult conditions, the IAEA continues its mission at the ZNPP, carrying out regular rotations of experts. However, observers face certain difficulties, including restricted access to important facilities such as spare parts warehouses and diesel fuel storage facilities.
The Director General of the IAEA, Raphael Grossi, visited Ukraine several times, stressing that guaranteeing the safety of the Zaporizhzhia NPP is one of the key international tasks. He emphasizes the importance of stable energy supply and maintaining control over all Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
The presence of the IAEA mission at the ZNPP is an important factor in international monitoring and security. Despite all the challenges, the organization remains committed to its mission, striving to prevent any potential nuclear disaster and protect both Ukraine and the world from the dangerous consequences of war.
