IAEA says situation of ZNPP "extremely fragile"

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, described the current situation at the Russian-captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as "extremely fragile".

An IAEA update states that the explosion at the Kakhovka HPP and the subsequent breach of the downstream dam created an additional threat to the safe operation of plant, reports Ukrinform.

“The nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is extremely fragile. The loss of the Kakhovka reservoir was a catastrophe for the region as a whole and has also added to the severe difficulties for this major nuclear power plant. Now more than ever, all sides must fully adhere to the IAEA’s basic principles designed to prevent a nuclear accident.  We will intensify our efforts to help ensure nuclear safety and security, while also providing assistance to the affected region in other ways,” Director General Grossi said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the Russians had mined the reactor cooler at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Disabling the cooler would cause significant problems, the top spy has warned.