IAEA Says It Is Working with Russia, Ukraine to Ensure Safety of Zaporizhzhia NPP

Deputy Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mikhail Chudakov, confirmed that IAEA Boss Rafael Grossi is working with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine to ensure the security of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

On his part, the advisor to the general director of (Ross Ingertom) company, that operates the Russian nuclear plant "Anrakcha" said that the distillation containers between the fourth and fifth power units of the station were damaged, as a result of the Ukrainian bombing, indicating that they are used to cool the nuclear reactor.

It is worth mentioning that, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said that a chance of a nuclear disaster at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) exists.

"We are informing the international community that the plant is at risk of a nuclear disaster and Kyiv clearly believes that a small nuclear incident would be acceptable," Likhachev said.

“However, the radiation won’t ask Kyiv what kind of incident it wants. It will be a precedent that will change the course of history forever,” the CEO added. “So everything possible needs to be done to make sure that no one can even think of damaging the security of nuclear power plants.”

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had resumed shelling attacks on the Zaporizhzhia NPP after a two-month break. 

According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces fired 25 munitions at the facility during 19-20 November, with one of them hitting the roof of Special Building No 2, where nuclear fuel is stored. 

The attackers were suppressed by return fire, and radiation levels remain normal around the power plant, the ministry added.