Military activity has again targeted the Ukrainian electrical grid, impacting nuclear power plants’ (NPPs) operations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported. All reactor units across Ukraine, except for one, had to reduce power, and several off-site power lines were disconnected. One reactor unit was disconnected from the grid, while another was shut down due to equipment issues from electrical fluctuations. All Ukrainian NPPs reported multiple drones and a cruise missile within their monitoring areas, and the IAEA team at the Khmelnitsky NPP also heard military activity and sheltered.
Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have been widely reported during the recent winter months while Ukraine has made several strikes against Russian oil assets.
“Such events in Ukraine are becoming all too common with each one reminding us of the ever-present risks to nuclear safety and security arising from deteriorating grid conditions,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. “No one benefits from a nuclear accident – especially one that can be prevented from all of us taking action. To this end, I call for maximum military restraint from all sides.”
The IAEA’s mission to electrical substations critical to nuclear safety and security in Ukraine has continued. As a result of the ongoing military activity described above, two additional substations were added to the mission, bringing the total number of substation visits by IAEA teams to 12. However, the team visiting a substation in Western Ukraine was forced to evacuate due to local air raid alarms. At the same time, teams at both the Khmelnitsky and Rivne NPPs also were required to shelter in place.
“We are lucky to be able to leverage our staff already deployed across Ukraine to obtain valuable first-hand knowledge of the impact these attacks are having on nuclear safety and security. We will continue to report on the nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine according to the Seven Indispensable Pillars and bring timely and important in situ information to our Member States,” Director General Grossi stated.
The Agency continued with deliveries under the comprehensive programme of assistance to help Ukraine maintain nuclear safety and security amid the on-going conflict. Three new systems to complement available physical protection measures were recently delivered – one to the Centralised Dry Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility of Energoatom and two to the State Specialised Enterprise “Central Enterprise for Radioactive Waste Management”. One high-pressure air compressor with a filling panel was delivered to Rivne NPP. The deliveries, which brought the total number of shipments to Ukraine to 203, were made possible with funds from Denmark, Italy, Japan and the UK.
