The Russian military put two power units at the ZNPP into a hot state

The Russian military put blocks 4 and 5 of the Zaporizhzhya NPP into a hot state. In addition, the Russians intend to assemble the 3rd power unit, which is under repair.

What is happening at the ZNPP

As Oleg Korikov, Acting Head of the State Nuclear Regulation Inspection, reported, all 6 power units without exception must be in a cold state. Instead, in violation of the terms of the State Nuclear Regulation license, the Russians put power units No. 4 and 5 into a hot state.

In addition, the Russians intend to assemble power unit No. 3 of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, which is currently dismantled and under repair.

Assembling the reactor of power unit #3 is contrary to the terms of the license for safe operation of the power unit. It stipulates that the power unit for repair must be in a cold state – Korikov said.

In addition, there is no information about carrying out certain works that must be carried out in the established order. There is not a sufficient number of qualified personnel at the site who are able to carry out both the assembly of the reactor and quality control of this assembly.

He added that the assembly of reactor No. 3 is also dangerous because it reduces the time until the installation’s reactor can be transferred to a critical state and further to power. This actualizes the risks of a radiation accident with the release of radiation outside the ZNPP industrial site. It will affect a significant territory of Ukraine and the states bordering our country, depending on the direction of the wind.

Currently, according to him, the radiation monitoring system at the ZNPP industrial site is actually inoperable. It is difficult to find out about a radiation incident in time, take countermeasures and react.

The IAEA approved the resolution regarding the return of the ZNPP to the control of Ukraine.

During the 67th session of the IAEA General Conference, 69 countries supported the resolution on nuclear safety in Ukraine. The resolution was proposed by Canada, Finland and Costa Rica.

Among other things, it calls on the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw all military and other unauthorized personnel from the ZNPP and return the plant to the full control of the competent authorities of Ukraine in accordance with the existing license issued by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNIRA), to ensure the safe and secure operation of the plant, for that the Agency carries out effective and efficient implementation of security guarantees in accordance with the Agreement of Ukraine on Comprehensive Guarantees and the Additional Protocol.