UN Warns Against Attacks on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, has cautioned against attacks on nuclear facilities, describing them as highly dangerous. This statement followed reports of a drone strike at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located in southern Ukraine and under Russian control.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has voiced ‘serious concern’ regarding the incident reported on Saturday. If verified, it marks the first drone attack within the perimeter of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant since April 2024. Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting the plant, which Kyiv denies, labeling the claim as a ‘propaganda ploy.’

Newsweek has reached out to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry for a comment on the issue.

Why It Matters

Ukrainian staff continue to operate the facility, which lies close to the southern front line. Concerns about potential nuclear accidents have been raised by international experts and officials amid exchanges of fire between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Each side blames the other for jeopardizing the plant’s safety. Russian forces took control of the plant after capturing Enerhodar in March 2022, shortly after launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The threat of a nuclear catastrophe looms large over Ukraine. This comes in the wake of the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, a poignant reminder of the devastating impact nuclear accidents can have. In 1986, Chernobyl claimed at least 30 lives in the immediate aftermath and exposed millions to harmful radiation.

Current Status and Developments

Mikhail Ulyanov, a senior Russian official stationed in Vienna where the IAEA operates, announced on Sunday that U.N. agency experts were inspecting the Zaporizhzhia site, according to Tass state news agency.

The IAEA has requested access to the plant. Since February 2022, the Zaporizhzhia site has lost off-site power more than twelve times, including once in December. Though it is not operational, it requires off-site power to ensure safety.

In March 2022, the IAEA established ‘seven indispensable pillars’ to safeguard nuclear safety in Ukraine during the war. These include the necessity for uninterrupted access to off-site power for all Ukrainian nuclear plants. By May 2023, the U.N. agency outlined ‘five concrete principles,’ one of which prohibits any attack from or against the Zaporizhzhia facility, especially near its reactors.