Ukraine warns IAEA of possible Russian attacks on nuclear-linked power networks

Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal, has informed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi of Russia’s preparations for another large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including the possibility of attacks on facilities and power networks critical to the operation of nuclear power plants.

According to Ukraine’s Energy Ministry, Shmyhal and Grossi agreed to hold joint briefings in the near future with the heads of Ukrainian nuclear power plants and the leaders of IAEA missions stationed directly at the facilities. During the talks, the sides also discussed the need to convene an extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors to assess the impact of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy system.

Grossi, in turn, said the Agency is preparing a special report along with a methodology to evaluate how strikes on energy infrastructure affect the functioning of nuclear power plants. He also confirmed plans to deploy a new IAEA expert mission to Ukrainian nuclear facilities, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as well as to key electricity substations.

Shmyhal stressed the strategic importance of maintaining IAEA missions at Ukrainian energy sites, underscoring that their movement to occupied territories via Russian territory is unacceptable. He thanked the Agency for its continued partnership and assistance in efforts to stabilise the situation.

Earlier, Russia and Ukraine have reached a localised ceasefire agreement around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant through IAEA mediation to allow repair work on the facility’s last remaining operational backup power line. The arrangement was announced by Grossi on Friday, January 16.

According to the IAEA, technicians from Ukraine’s power grid operator are expected to begin repairs in the coming days on the 330-kilovolt line, which was damaged and taken offline following military action on January 2.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, comprises six reactors with a combined capacity of 6,000 megawatts. It is located near the city of Enerhodar on the southern bank of the now-depleted Kakhovka reservoir. Russian forces seized the site in March 2022 shortly after launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and subsequently placed it under the administration of Rosenergoatom.

Although all six reactors remain shut down, the plant continues to require constant cooling. Electricity for cooling systems is supplied from the external power grid, with diesel generators serving as a backup in the event of outages. Throughout the war, the facility has repeatedly come under fire, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of responsibility.

Control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after the war has become a central issue in discussions on possible paths toward a peace settlement in Ukraine, with the United States acting as a key intermediary.

By Tamilla Hasanova