IAEA chief warns of "very serious" nuclear safety situation at Zaporizhzhia NPP

A serious threat to nuclear safety persists at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which has been left without external power for the past ten days and is relying on emergency backup systems, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has warned.

According to Caliber.Az, citing the agency’s press service, Grossi said: “From the point of view of nuclear safety, the situation remains very serious. I call on both sides to take the necessary measures to prevent its further deterioration. This is a matter of political will, not technical capabilities — they are there.”

Grossi underlined that he remains in constant communication with both Ukrainian and Russian authorities regarding detailed proposals to restore external power supply to the facility.

He noted that both sides had expressed readiness to carry out repairs on their respective sections of the front line.

“But for this to happen, the security situation on the ground must be improved so that technicians can do their important work without risking their lives,” Grossi stressed.

By Tamilla Hasanova