Ukraine accuses Russia of hiding dangerous actions at Zaporizhzhia NPP from IAEA
Photo: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has been in blackout mode for nearly three weeks, posing a threat to nuclear safety, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reports.
He said Russia deliberately severed the plant’s connection to Ukraine’s power grid to test integration with the Russian network — an action unprecedented in the history of nuclear energy.
"Not only is this an attempted theft of a peaceful Ukrainian nuclear facility. Unauthorized actions of Russia's 'Rosatom' violate internationally recognized nuclear safety protocols, contradict Ukrainian license, and directly threaten a nuclear incident," Sybiha said.
He added that Moscow is trying to deceive the IAEA and the entire technical and diplomatic community by pretending that someone else is responsible for the crisis. The real problem, he said, is that Russia has seized a Ukrainian nuclear facility, deployed troops and weapons there, mined the perimeter, and is conducting technically unacceptable experiments.
Sybiha stressed that to end the dangerous blackout, Russia must stop its shelling and allow repairs of power transmission lines — something it could do at any time.
"We call on the international community to clearly recognize Russia's and 'Rosatom's' actions as illegal, unacceptable, and critically dangerous," he said.
Sybiha also urged the IAEA to pressure Russia to stop all technical experiments at the plant and return it to its rightful owner — Ukraine.
Blackout at the Zaporizhzhia NPP
On September 23, Energoatom, the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine, reported that the Zaporizhzhia NPP experienced its tenth blackout since the start of the full-scale war. The Russian army has deliberately refused to restore the plant's connection to the power grid.
The company said the last external power line linking the plant to Ukraine’s energy system had been damaged, forcing the facility to switch to diesel generators for electricity. This situation could lead to a nuclear accident, as external power is essential to cool the reactors.
The IAEA also warned that after the plant was disconnected from external power sources, the nuclear safety situation at the site remains extremely serious.
