IAEA reports shelling near Zaporizhzhia NPP

The Zaporizhzhia NPP has been operating on only one power line for over a week due to hostilities.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reports ongoing combat activity in the area of ​​the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which poses significant risks to the safety of the facility. Over the past week, the International Atomic Energy Agency team has regularly heard explosions at various distances from the plant, as well as the sounds of gunfire and, presumably, a drone.

As part of its daily nuclear safety monitoring, the IAEA team inspected six of the 20 emergency diesel generators at the ZNPP. These generators provide backup power in the event of a complete loss of external power supply, which has already happened eight times during the war. Two of them had loose screws, and one showed signs of recent work, although the plant denies any maintenance, attributing the problem to vibration. The team will soon observe a test of one of the generators.

It is also reported that the mobile diesel boilers that heated the ZNPP and Energodar in the winter are currently stopped for hydraulic tests of the water supply. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stressed that he continues active cooperation with both sides to organize the next rotation of the agency’s experts, which is delayed due to the difficult situation on the front line.