This week, the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant informed the International Atomic Energy Agency about the destruction of the external radiation monitoring station as a result of shelling and fire. The destruction of the station led to a decrease in the effectiveness of external radiation control, which makes it difficult to detect and measure radioactive emissions in the event of an accident.
About this it is said on the MAGET website.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed deep concern over this incident:
“The functioning of external radiation monitoring equipment is an important part of nuclear safety worldwide. These systems are important for continuous monitoring of radiation levels and, in the event of an emergency, for rapid assessment of current and potential radiological exposure and what protective measures may be required“.
According to the information of the ZAP, communication with the monitoring station, located 16 kilometers southwest of the NPP, was lost on Monday afternoon. Due to the security situation, the IAEA team of experts could not reach the site to confirm the damage.
Since the beginning of 2022, several radiation monitoring stations in a 30-kilometer zone around the ZNPP have been inactive due to damage caused by the conflict. Four of the 14 stations are currently unavailable.
“(The destruction of the station) is part of a continuing erosion of wartime security measures that remains a source of deep concern“, Grossi added.
We would like to remind you that the Zaporizhzhya NPP has been under Russian occupation since March 4, 2022. During this time, the Russians repeatedly violated the principles of nuclear and radiation safety.
