IAEA experts have discovered several mines at the site around Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which they classify as almost no risk. However, the Atomic Energy Agency criticizes its use.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), its own experts discovered some mines at the site around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.
The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, announced that they are the so-called anti-personnel mines that are located in a buffer zone between the internal and external barriers of the nuclear power plant. Plant personnel would not have access to this area. So far, no mines have been found inside the nuclear power plant. However, mining in peripheral areas increases the psychological pressure on the nuclear power plant workforce.
Grossi left open how many mines the IAEA team identified. However, he emphasized that “the installation’s nuclear security and protection systems” are unlikely to be affected in the event of an explosion from these mines.
Agreement prohibits the use of antipersonnel mines
However, Grossi strongly criticized the move to mine the area around the nuclear power plant: “The fact that such explosives were in place contradicts the IAEA safety standards and guidelines for nuclear safety.”
The use of antipersonnel mines has been prohibited since 1997 by the so-called Ottawa Convention. The treaty has been ratified by over 160 countries worldwide. Ukraine also joined the agreement, while Russia did not.
No full access for IAEA staff
The IAEA had already been informed in the past that the “military decision” had been taken to place mines in the place because it was an “area controlled by the military”. Last week, however, the IAEA reported that it had not yet found any mines at the site of the nuclear power plant. However, experts would not have full access to all areas, such as the roofs of reactor buildings and turbine rooms.
Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russian troops of partially undermining the nuclear plant. Among other things, “explosive-like objects” were allegedly attached to the roofs of two reactors to give the impression that the nuclear power plant had been damaged by Ukrainian bombing. Russia has repeatedly criticized Ukraine for endangering the nuclear plant with attacks and mining.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has been under Russian control since March 2022. It is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
Controversial maintenance work
According to the plant operator, technical maintenance work would have to be carried out on a reactor in the so-called block number five in an area of the nuclear power plant. For this, the reactor was switched to the cold state and another reactor was switched to the hot state to be able to supply the steam demand of the plant.
Ukrainian nuclear energy group Enerhoatom warned of the risks associated with this “gross breach of the conditions of the license to operate this nuclear facility”. Block number four can only be operated in the cold state. The operation of this part of the nuclear power plant has been completely suspended for a long time, so it has not been repaired or repaired.
Officially, the plant is still considered deactivated. Even heated, the reactor blocks do not produce electricity, only steam. The factory closed in September 2022.