Nuclear power plant captured in Ukraine: International authority "extremely concerned" about new orders from Russia

Created: 08/03/2022 05:12

By: Bettina Menzel

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi speaks at a press conference on the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine in Vienna (archive picture, March 4, 2022).

© picture alliance/dpa/AP |

Lisa Leutner

The largest nuclear power plant in Europe is now in Russian hands.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is "extremely concerned" and sees the safety concept violated.

Zaporizhia/Ukraine - In the night from Thursday (March 3) to Friday, Russian troops in the Ukraine war occupied Europe's largest nuclear power plant near Zaporizhia.

The Ukrainian President accused Putin of aiming tanks at the reactor blocks – that would be a first in history.

The fire in the nuclear plant has now been extinguished and the radiation levels do not appear to have increased.

But the International Atomic Energy Agency sounds the alarm because the nuclear power plant is under Russian control and important safety concepts are no longer in force.

For the first time in history: nuclear power plant may have been targeted

"The first casualty of war is truth," is a dictum often attributed to US politician Hiram Johnson.

A lot of information that becomes known from the Ukraine war often cannot be independently verified at first.

This applies, for example, to the announcement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj that Russia was firing tanks at the reactor blocks of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.

However, some things can be clearly demonstrated.

For example, the surveillance cameras of the nuclear power plant show that fighting took place on the site of the nuclear plant from Thursday to Friday and a building went up in flames.

Even when it was already on fire, the projectiles continued to fire.

As a result, extinguishing work could only begin in the early hours of the morning.

If the targeted shelling of the Russian troops proves true, this would be a first in history.

The Chernobyl disaster was caused by human and technical failure, while Fukushima was a natural disaster.

Largest nuclear power plant in Europe in the Ukraine war under Russian command - what that means

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is "extremely concerned" about the situation in Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

Ukraine informed the IAEA on Sunday that the nuclear power plant would continue to be operated by regular personnel.

However, the plant management is now under the command of a commander of the Russian armed forces, whose approval is also required for all measures in connection with the technical operation of the six reactor blocks.

This contradicts the safety concept for nuclear power plants, said IAEA boss Rafael Grossi.

The staff must be able to carry out their security tasks without pressure.

Communication is also an important safety feature in nuclear plants.

This is currently severely restricted in Zaporizhia.

Russian forces shut down some mobile networks and the Internet.

"Reliable communication between the regulatory authority and the operator is a crucial part of overall nuclear safety and security," Grossi said.

Communication is also said to be restricted in the Chernobyl accident reactor, which was taken over by Russian troops.

The IAEA reports that communication with the switched-off nuclear power plant is currently only possible via e-mail.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is "extremely concerned" about the situation in Zaporizhia (archive photo, March 4, 2022).

© picture alliance/dpa/AP |

Lisa Leutner

Ukraine war: International community condemns Russia's actions

The international community was outraged by Russia's actions.

At the UN in New York, the United States accused Moscow of endangering civilians across Europe.

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said the attack on the nuclear power plant showed Russia's "recklessness" in the Ukraine war.

The foreign ministers of the G7 group of leading democratic economic powers called on Russia to stop its attacks in the immediate vicinity of Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

"Any armed attack or threat against peaceful nuclear power plants is a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the statute of the (International Atomic Energy Agency) IAEA," said a statement released on Friday ( 4.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj sharply condemned the attack on the nuclear facility and spoke of "nuclear terrorism".

In a speech he addressed the Russian population directly.

"In 1986 we fought together against the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.

Take to the streets and fight for a world without radioactive contamination," the Ukrainian president called on the people of Russia, adding: "Radiation doesn't know where Russia is!"

"Radiation doesn't know where Russia is!"

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine

There was at least one all-clear: According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, no increased radioactive radiation could be measured in the vicinity of Zaporizhia.

The world narrowly missed an even greater disaster.

From a Russian perspective, talks with Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities could begin soon.

Moscow supports the corresponding proposal by IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, said Russian Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov on Monday in Vienna

.