Europe’s largest nuclear plant damaged several times in Ukraine war – UN inspectors

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in occupied Ukraine has been repeatedly ‘violated’ by shelling since the war began, say safety inspectors.

Rafeal Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), led a team of UN inspectors on a tour of the Russian-controlled plant.

They assessed the damage caused by heavy shelling in recent weeks, amid fears rising radiation levels could spark another Chernobyl-level nuclear disaster.

‘It is obvious that the plant and physical integrity of the plant has been violated several times,’ Mr Grossi told reporters at the scene yesterday.

‘We have spent there four or five hours. I have seen a lot, and I have my people there, we were able to tour the whole site.

‘I worried, I worry and I will continue to be worried about the plant,’ he said, adding that while dangerous, the situation was ‘more predictable’ now.

Mr Grossi confirmed part of his 14-strong delegation would be staying at the plant ‘until Sunday or Monday’ as they continued with their inspection.

He added a number of experts would remain permanently stationed on-site in order to assess physical damage to the plant, ensure its safety and security systems are functional, and evaluate the conditions of the facility’s staff.

‘We are not going anywhere’, he said. ‘The IAEA is now there, it is at the plant and it is not moving – it’s going to stay there.’

Rossi claimed the physical integrity of the reactors had been ‘violated’ following artillery strikes and that members of his team would be remaining permanently on-site

Mr Grossi further praised the ‘dedicated work’ of the plant’s staff who had been ‘carrying on professionally’ with their jobs under ‘very difficult circumstances’.

Russian forces captured the Zaporizhzhia plant – Europe’s largest nuclear power station – in March, although the site is still connected to the Ukrainian power grid and is staffed by Energoatom employees.

Shortly after its capture on March 4, the nuclear agency was forced to close down two reactors.

On August 5, a third reactor was forced to close following intense shelling. A fourth reactor is currently being fixed.

This left only two reactors still in operation until this week, when reactor six was also shut down following a shelling attack.

There are fears rising radiation levels caused by damage to the reactors could lead to a ‘Chernobyl’ level nuclear disaster

Both Moscow and Kyiv have blamed each other for the artillery fire, with Ukrainian forces accusing the Russians of using the plant as a shield and a tool of blackmail, as well as hindering the work of the IAEA.

Energoatom, Ukraine’s nuclear agency, said it was ‘the second time in 10 days’ that Russian shelling had forced the closure of a reactor and the plant was currently running on a back-up generator.

‘The power plant’s Ukrainian workers are doing their best to prevent damage to its infrastructure,’ a spokesperson for Energoatom said.

Footage emerged yesterday of an explosion at the medical building in Enerhodar, which lies just miles from the nuclear plant and was on the pre-agreed route for the UN mission to the plant.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his frequent calls that all troops be removed from the plant in a video address.

‘The main thing that must happen is the demilitarisation of the station’s territory,” he said.

‘Demilitarisation and full control of Ukrainian nuclear workers.’

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