The nuclear safety situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya NPP is deteriorating following a drone strike on 17 August that hit a road that runs around the site perimeter, reported International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Grossi in his situation Update 245. “Yet again we see an escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers facing the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. I remain extremely concerned and reiterate my call for maximum restraint from all sides and for strict observance of the five concrete principles established for the protection of the plant,” he said.
Earlier on the 17th the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) team was informed by ZNPP that an explosive carried by a drone detonated just outside of the plant’s protected area. The impact site was close to the essential cooling water sprinkler ponds and about 100 metres from the Dniprovska power line, the only remaining 750 kV line providing a power supply.
The team visited the area and reported that the damage seemed to have been caused by a drone equipped with an explosive payload. There were no casualties and no impact on any NPP equipment, but some damage to the road between the two main gates of ZNPP.
The ISAMZ team has recently reported that military activity in the area – including very close to the plant – has been intense for the last week. They have heard frequent explosions, repetitive heavy machine gun and rifle fire and artillery at various distances from the plant. There is no sign of the military activity in the vicinity of ZNPP abating, despite Director General Grossi’s repeated calls for restraint.
On 10 August ZNPP informed the IAEA team that artillery struck the local power and water substation in the nearby city Enerhodar, home to most ZNPP staff. The attack caused the failure of two transformers, leading to a citywide power outage. As a result, water had to be supplied using diesel generators. On 11 August ZNPP reported that power had been restored in the city.
• This week director general Grossi continued discussions on the recent events in the territory of the Russian Federation, including the proximity of military action to an important and operating nuclear power plant. He has expressed his readiness to assess the situation, and is willing to visit to the plant.
