Moscow reaches out to IAEA over restarting Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

According to the outlet, Russia aims to resume operations at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is located near one of the active front lines of the war.

Alexey Likhachev, head of Russia's nuclear energy agency, even met with Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, to discuss the issue.

Following today's meeting, Russia raised the issue of US-supplied nuclear fuel stored at the Ukrainian power plant.

Alexey Likhachev stated that Russia is ready either to use the fuel provided by the American company Westinghouse or to completely remove it and return it to the United States.

Moreover, Likhachev claimed that Russia has prepared a "comprehensive plan" for the phased restart of the plant, but said it can only be implemented if all military threats are eliminated.

He also noted that Westinghouse and US energy officials had previously expressed concerns to Russia about the fuel issue.

Additionally, Moscow today appealed to the UN's nuclear watchdog to mediate between Russia and the United States to resolve the matter.

It is worth noting that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which once produced one-fifth of Ukraine's electricity, has not been operational since 2022, when the fighting approached the facility. It has six reactors, the last of which stopped generating electricity in September of that year.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told Reuters this week that restarting the plant is currently impossible due to a lack of stable electricity supply and cooling water.

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported on the likelihood of Russia restarting the Zaporizhzhia plant and the potential consequences of such a move.

Additionally, last night, the IAEA recorded another series of explosions at the plant — the fourth such incident since the beginning of the year.