Increased military activity near the Zaporizhia NPP (ZNPP) and the city of Energodar, where many plant staff live, further challenges efforts to maintain nuclear safety and security at the site, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in his latest update on 30 July.
He referred to a two-day internet outage from midday on 27 July the longest such disruption since the IAEA established its continued presence at the site almost four years ago. It was not immediately clear what caused the internet loss. ZNPP also continued to face water supply difficulties, although groundwater wells continue to provide water for essential safety and security functions at the plant. Military activity near the ZNPP and Energodar remains a serious concern, he said. “The recent internet outage and water supply problems are further examples of the challenges facing those who operate the plant under already difficult and stressful circumstances.”
The plant subsequently faced drone attacks. ZNPP reported on its Telegram channel on 30 July that an unmanned aerial vehicle with a live charge was recorded on the territory of the ZNPP in the area of the site of the used fuel dry storage facility. “The drone was found in the immediate vicinity of the storage building of a conveyor designed to transport containers with used nuclear fuel. The ammunition was defused in a timely manner. There were no casualties or damage,” ZNPP said.
It added: “However, the attack itself is an extremely dangerous incident. The conveyor is a unique specialised equipment that has no analogues. Its damage could deprive ZNPP of the ability to safely perform routine transportation and technological operations with used nuclear fuel. This would mean a disruption of the plant’s technological capabilities for handling used nuclear fuel, significantly complicating the necessary routine operations and creating additional risks for the long-term safe operation of the facility.”
The same day, ZNPP experienced an hour-long technical outage of external power supply during which the station’s systems were powered by backup diesel generators. ZNPP said the radiation background remained within normal limits and the station’s needs were met through the back-up 330 kV Ferrosplavnaya-1 power line. The 750 kV high-voltage Dneprovskaya power transmission line remains unconnected, although repairs have been completed. However, Ukraine still has not yet supplied voltage to the line.
The following day, a drone struck the gallery connecting all six units at the ZNPP, RIA Novosti reported, citing Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev. He said that the station’s personnel were moving along the gallery at the time. The impact occurred a few metres away from the reactor compartment of unit 3. ZNPP Communications Director Yevgeniya Yashina confirmed the attack and said IAEA staff had been informed.
An unmanned aerial vehicle was discovered in the immediate vicinity of the unit 3 building, near the wall of the transition gallery, which is used by the station’s operational personnel on a daily basis. There was no detonation. There were no damages or injuries, according to the station. Reporting the incident on its Telegram channel, ZNPP said: “This is the second time in the last week that a drone has been found on the territory of the ZNPP. For the second time in a week, the target of the attack is facilities directly related to ensuring the safe operation of the NPP.”
ZNPP added: “Such actions pose additional risks to nuclear safety and once again demonstrate that the attacks are no longer limited to the perimeter of the plant, but are taking place in close proximity to critical facilities. Despite the ongoing provocations, ZNPP staff continue to monitor all safety parameters. The plant is in a safe state, and the radiation levels on the site and in the monitoring area do not exceed natural levels.”
