IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed grave concerns about the recent attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. He stated that these attacks have brought the world dangerously close to a nuclear accident. Grossi confirmed three attacks on the plant since April 7th but did not attribute blame to any specific party.
During a meeting with the Security Council, Grossi emphasized the need for these attacks to stop immediately. He acknowledged that although there have been no radiological incidents so far, the attacks have significantly increased the risk to nuclear safety, especially considering the compromised state of the plant. The use of remote-controlled drones in the attacks has made it difficult to identify the perpetrators.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located in Russian-controlled territory in southeastern Ukraine, has six nuclear reactors. The plant has been at great risk since Russian troops took control of it following the invasion in February 2022. Ongoing conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces, as well as supply shortages at the plant, have heightened concerns about a potential nuclear disaster.
While Ukraine and its allies have accused Russia of endangering the plant, Russia has blamed Ukraine for the attacks. The IAEA report did not definitively identify the perpetrators of the attacks, leading to conflicting claims from both sides. The situation remains tense, with the looming threat of a nuclear catastrophe continuing to escalate.