IAEA: Nuclear safety at risk as Ukraine nuclear plants cut output after Russian attack
Three NPPs reduced electricity generation after Russia's Nov. 28 infrastructure attacks, IAEA reported, notably without naming Russia.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that three Ukrainian nuclear power plants reduced electricity output following November 28 morning attacks on energy infrastructure.
According to the press release, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi highlighted the extreme vulnerability of Ukraine’s energy systems, stating that these attacks “put nuclear safety at great risk.” Two IAEA teams deployed in Ukraine were forced to seek shelter during the incident.
The three nuclear power plants – Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and South Ukraine – collectively operate nine reactors, all of which decreased output. One reactor at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant was completely disconnected from the grid, according to the report. Ukraine’s fourth and largest Zaporizhzhia NPP has been under Russian occupation since 2022.
While no direct damage to the nuclear power plants was reported, Ukraine informed the IAEA that strikes once again impacted electrical substations crucial for power transmission and reception. These substations, previously identified as critical for nuclear safety, have been damaged in previous attacks, including Russian air assaults in August.
Not addressing the culprit directly, Grossi emphasized the importance of maintaining secure off-site power supplies for nuclear sites, noting that the grid’s capability to provide reliable power has been significantly reduced. He called for “maximum military restraint in areas with major nuclear energy facilities.”
Related:
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- Russian strikes on Ukrainian nuclear power plants could cause nuclear disaster
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- Massive Russian morning attack causes decrease in electrical power at Ukrainian nuclear power plants, IAEA says
- Massive Russian attack on Ukraine’s power grid with 90 drones and 120 missiles causes power outages and casualties (updated)
- UN nuclear agency funded Russian research in occupied Crimea, investigation reveals
- Russia’s security chief at occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant dies in car blast
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