The agency’s director-general, Rafael Grossi, told the board of governors today that “the situation in Ukraine is unprecedented and I continue to be gravely concerned”. He said it is the first time a military conflict is happening amidst the facilities of a large, established nuclear power programme, which in this case also include the site of the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.
His comments came soon after Russia told the agency that its military forces have taken control of the territory around Ukraine’s Zaporozhye nuclear station, the largest in the country which houses six of the country’s 15 operational nuclear power reactors.
The safety and security of nuclear facilities, and nuclear and other radioactive material, in Ukraine must under no circumstances be endangered, Mr Grossi said.
“In this context it is also imperative to ensure that the brave people who operate, regulate, inspect and assess the nuclear facilities in Ukraine can continue to do their indispensable jobs safely, unimpeded and without undue pressure,” he said.
The IAEA has been monitoring the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and has been receiving updates from Ukrainian regulator SNRIU.
Despite the extraordinary circumstances of an armed conflict causing increasing challenges and dangers, Ukraine’s nuclear power stations are operating normally.
But Mr Grossi said there is nothing “normal” about the circumstances under which the professionals at Ukraine’s four nuclear stations are managing to keep the reactors that produce half of Ukraine’s electricity working.
The Zaporozhye nuclear power station houses six of Ukraine's 15 operational reactors. Courtesy Energoatom.
“It is of critical importance that the armed conflict and activities on the ground around Zaporozhye… and any other of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities in no way interrupts or endangers the facilities or the people working at and around them,” Mr Grossi said.
Russian forces have taken control of all facilities of the Chernobyl nuclear power station. No casualties or destruction have been reported. While increased levels of radiation were initially measured at the site, probably due to the movement of heavy military vehicles disturbing the soil, the IAEA assessed that they remained low enough not to pose a hazard to the public.
Mr Grossi said it is of utmost importance that the staff working at Chernobyl are able to do their job safely and effectively, and that their personal wellbeing is guaranteed.
He confirmed he had received a letter from the SNRIU asking for the agency to extend immediate assistance to ensure the safety of Chernobyl and other nuclear facilities in the country. “I am conducting consultations in order to address this request for assistance,” he said.
Mr Grossi said there have been two incidents that highlight the risk that facilities with radioactive material may suffer damage during the armed conflict, with potentially severe consequences.
On Sunday, Russian missiles hit the site of a radioactive waste disposal facility in Kyiv. There were no reports of damage to the building or any indications of a radioactive release.
The strike came a day after SNRIU said an electrical transformer at a similar disposal facility near the northeastern city of Kharkiv had been damaged, also without any reports of a radioactive release. Such facilities typically hold disused radioactive sources and other low-level waste from hospitals and industry.
Mr Grossi said any armed attack on and threat against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the principles of the
He said a key source of information for the IAEA is SNRIU and its ability to provide accurate and complete data on the safety and security of the operation of all nuclear facilities in Ukraine should not be interrupted, impeded or influenced.
“The best action to ensure the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and its people would be for this armed conflict to end now,” Mr Grossi said.
Nuclear Safety In UkraineThe IAEA said at the heart of nuclear safety are the three main safety functions: containment, control and cooling. In concrete terms, that means:
The physical integrity of the facilities – whether it is the reactors, fuel ponds, or radioactive waste stores – must be maintainedAll safety and security systems and equipment must be fully functional at all timesThe operating staff must be able to fulfil their safety and security duties, and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressureThere must be secure offsite power supply from the grid for all nuclear sitesThere must be uninterrupted logistical supply chains and transportation to and from the sitesThere must be effective on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems and emergency preparedness and response measuresThere must be reliable communications with the regulator and others