GRS

The IAEA has concluded a mission to 19 electrical substations essential to Ukraine’s nuclear safety, days before it was informed of an attack on one of the substations assessed by the team, Director General @rafaelgrossi said today. On 27 October, the IAEA was informed of an attack on the Slavutych substation that reportedly resulted in the loss of all its 330 kV lines. The substation was among those assessed during the Agency’s ninth such mission since September 2024, although the security situation on ground prevented the team from visiting it. iaea.org/newscenter/pressrel…

The IAEA has been informed that an employee of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was killed by a drone attack today. The victim was reportedly a welder at the plant’s centralized repair workshop. DG @rafaelmgrossi says any attack on nuclear plant staff is completely unacceptable and violates the Seven Indispensable Pillars for Nuclear Safety and Security during an armed conflict. DG Grossi calls again for maximum military restraint to help prevent the risk of a nuclear accident during the conflict.

Under the protection of the latest localized ceasefire negotiated by IAEA DG @rafaelmgrossi, repairs have been completed on power infrastructure that is of crucial importance for efforts to prevent a nuclear accident during the conflict in Ukraine. The eighth such IAEA-brokered temporary truce took effect on 15 October, paving the way for the past week’s repairs of damaged electrical switchyard equipment , around 2 km from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and a key link in its access to off-site power. The work - conducted near the frontline and monitored by an IAEA team - was at times accompanied by the sound of drones, gunfire and other military activity, stark reminders of constant dangers to nuclear safety and security. The successful repairs have strengthened the connection between the ZNPP and its sole remaining external power line, the Ferosplavna-1, and reduced the risk of yet another loss of off-site power for Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. The ZNPP’s connection to the electrical grid is especially important at this time as the site’s fuel reserves for emergency diesel generators have declined in recent months, potentially weakening its ability to cope with another lengthy loss of the external electricity needed for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety and security functions. DG Grossi thanks the Russian Federation and Ukraine for agreeing to the ceasefire and paving the way for the repairs, demonstrating a readiness by both sides to engage constructively with the IAEA for the sake of nuclear safety and security. The IAEA will continue its vital work to help protect the ZNPP and other nuclear installations during the conflict, DG Grossi adds.

A new localized ceasefire negotiated by IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi took effect this morning to help prevent a nuclear accident in Ukraine during the military conflict. The eighth such IAEA-brokered temporary truce will enable repairs of equipment in a 330 kilovolt (kV) switchyard, close to the Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP), that has been damaged by military activity. This will in turn strengthen the connection between the nearby Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and its sole remaining external power line, the Ferosplavna-1, and reduce the risk of another loss of off-site power. The ZNPP’s continued connection to the electrical grid is more important than ever as its fuel reserves for emergency diesel generators have been running low in recent months, weakening this last line of defence against a complete station blackout. Following demining, the repair work is expected to last several days, carried out on the frontline of the conflict and monitored by an IAEA team on the ground. DG Grossi says the Russian Federation and Ukraine engaged constructively with the IAEA to pave the way for the latest ceasefire, showing that persistent diplomatic efforts can yield concrete results that benefit both sides also in the most difficult and challenging of circumstances. The IAEA will continue its indispensable work to ensure nuclear safety and security during the conflict, DG Grossi says.

The ZNPP is considering a further reduction in the number of emergency diesel generators (EDGs) kept in automatic standby as diesel fuel supplies at the site continue to be a concern, IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi said today. iaea.org/newscenter/pressrel…