“New threat”: IAEA reports explosions near Zaporizhzhia NPP
6 January 12:11
Yesterday, January 5, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recorded a series of loud explosions near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and also reported a drone attack on the plant’s training center. This was stated by the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, according to Komersant ukrainskyi with reference to the IAEA press service.
According to the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission (ISAMZ), which is located at the occupied ZNPP, two powerful explosions occurred outside the perimeter of the station at approximately 12:45 and 15:45. So far, the IAEA has not confirmed information about possible damage. In addition, observers have repeatedly heard the sounds of machine gun fire on the territory of the facility.
The agency also allegedly received a report of a “possible drone attack on the ZNPP training center” located just outside the station’s perimeter. According to the available information, no one was injured in the incident, and the nuclear power plant’s equipment was not damaged.
The ISAMZ team notes that over the past 24 hours, the intensity of military operations near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has increased significantly, with numerous explosions recorded at different distances from the plant.
“Any attack on a nuclear power plant is absolutely unacceptable. In light of the increased military activity at ZNPP, I once again call for maximum restraint to prevent a clear threat to its safety,”
– mr. Grossi emphasized.
It is worth noting that the IAEA did not mention that ZNPP is occupied by Russian troops and controlled by Russians. The organization also did not specify whose drones allegedly attacked the station. Logically, it would have to be Ukrainian drones, so the IAEA is vactically accusing Ukraine of violating nuclear safety principles.
The IAEA continues to monitor the safety situation at the plant.
Follow us on Telegram: the main news in brief
ZNPP
Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and the third largest in the world by total capacity. Located in the Zaporizhzhia region near the city of Enerhodar, it consists of six nuclear power units of 1 GW each. Construction began in 1981, and the first unit was commissioned in 1984. The last unit, the sixth, was commissioned in 1995.
ZNPP annually produced about 40 billion kWh of electricity, which was about 20% of Ukraine’s total power generation. It is also the first nuclear power plant in the country to have a dry spent fuel storage facility.
The Russian army seized ZNPP on the night of March 4, 2022, after shelling the nuclear facility. Russia has also occupied the city of Enerhodar, near which the nuclear power plant is located.
Since the beginning of the Russian occupation, Zaporizhzhia NPP has experienced eight full blackouts and one partial blackout, with the launch of emergency diesel generators and safety systems. According to Energoatom, their failure threatens to cause an emergency.
The last time the plant faced the threat of blackout was on August 23 this year.
