Russian Nuclear Blackmail Continues: Zaporizhzhia NPP, Europe's Largest, Re-Mined by Russian Occupiers, Says IAEA

The occupying Russian forces have reinstalled mines along the perimeter of the European largest Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which they occupy in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine. 

This was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"The mines along the perimeter of ZNPP, in the buffer zone between the inner and outer fences of the facility, which were previously identified by the IAEA team and removed in November 2023, are now back in place. This is a restricted area inaccessible to plant personnel," the IAEA said in a statement. 

Director General Grossi reiterated that the presence of mines does not meet IAEA safety standards.

He also said that on 19 January 2024, Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) again lost direct backup power to the reactor units for several hours this week, highlighting the ongoing nuclear safety risks at the site. 

"The vulnerable power status of the plant remains one of the main hazards to nuclear safety and security at the site. The situation remains extremely worrying in this regard. Since August 2022, the facility has already experienced eight external power outages, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators," said IAEA Director General Grossi.

As The Gaze previously reported, in December, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted its fourteenth monitoring mission at the Russian-seized Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

Afterwards, the aggressor country Russia continued its nuclear blackmail and prevented the IAEA experts from accessing the largest Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Europe, which raised many questions.

This was the first time that IAEA experts were denied access to the reactor hall of the unit, which was on cold shutdown. The reactor core and spent fuel are located there. This is stated in the official report of the IAEA, whose team will continue to seek this access from the Russian occupiers at ZNPP.

Also, during the inspection of the security system of Unit 6 on 22 December, IAEA experts observed deposits of boric acid on valves, pumps and floors of several protective rooms

This type of leakage can occur during plant operation.

Energoatom is the only legitimate operator of Europe's largest nuclear facility, Zaporizhzhia NPP, and only the return of the plant to full Ukrainian control can ensure its nuclear and radiation safety.