1 of 2 Nuclear fuel storage tanks at the plant — Photo: EPA/Via BBC Nuclear fuel storage tanks at the plant — Photo: EPA/Via BBC
The DirectorGeneral of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed concern over the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant as Russian occupying forces evacuate civilians from the nearby Ukrainian city of Enerhodar.
Rafael Grossi said that the situation at the Zaporizhia plant was becoming “more and more unpredictable and potentially dangerous”.
The evacuation comes on the eve of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.
But the operating team of the nuclear power plant remains on site.
Bombing raids cause destruction in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
The IAEA statement said: “While the response team remains on the ground, DirectorGeneral Grossi expressed deep concern at the increasingly tense, stressful and challenging conditions facing professionals and their families.”
The agency said that IAEA experts present at the plant “have received information that the announced evacuation of residents from the neighboring town of Enerhodar where most of the plant’s employees live has begun”.
The BBC has been unable to verify the extent of the reported evacuation.
2 of 2 Map showing location of Zaporizhia and who is in control of surrounding regions — Photo: BBC Map showing location of Zaporizhia and who is in control of surrounding regions — Photo: BBC
Grossi said: “We must act now to avert the risk of a serious nuclear accident.”
The IAEA has previously issued safety warnings to the facility after bombing raids caused some damage to the facility and temporary power outages, but without triggering any radiation leaks.
In March, the IAEA lamented the fact that after damage to power lines, the facility was running on diesel generators to keep vital cooling systems running.
All six of the plant’s reactors are shut down, the IAEA says.
The agency quoted site manager Yuri Chernichuk as saying that operations staff are not being evacuated and are doing whatever is necessary to ensure nuclear safety at the site.
Since Russia began the invasion in February 2022, the number of staff at the facility has declined, the IAEA says, “but management at the site says it’s still sufficient for the safe operation of the unit.”
Russian forces occupy much of the Zaporizhia region, but not the regional capital, Zaporizhia, which is northeast of Enerhodar across the Dnieper Dam. In addition to Enerhodar, Russia has ordered the evacuation of civilians from 18 front lines in the region.
On Friday (5), the regional head appointed by Russia, Yevgeny Balitsky, said that “over the past few days, the enemy has intensified shelling of settlements near the front line.”
“I have therefore made the decision to first evacuate all children and parents, the elderly, the disabled and hospital patients,” he wrote on social media.