Invaders put ZNPP unit 4 into hot shutdown state - Energoatom

Energoatom reported this on Telegram, Ukrinform says.

"On July 24, 2023, despite the requirements of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) and Energoatom, power unit 4 was put into a hot shutdown state at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP pursuant to the order of the illegitimate management. Such actions are a gross violation of the requirements of the license to operate this nuclear facility. The operation of ZNPP unit 4 should be carried out exclusively in the cold shutdown state," the statement said.

Energoatom reminds that after Russia blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam on June 6 and the actual disappearance of the Kakhovka reservoir, there are real risks of insufficient cooling water supply to ZNPP. This blocks the ability of the plant to operate at full capacity, and the Russian occupation administration and Rosatom representatives are aware of this. This means that it is an undeniable risk to nuclear and radiation safety due to the long downtime of the power unit equipment and lack of proper routine maintenance and repair of equipment.

The commission of illegal actions containing signs of criminal offenses provided for by the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is observed:

- Art. 267 (Violation of the rules of handling explosive, flammable and caustic substances or radioactive materials);

- Art. 274 (Violation of nuclear or radiation safety rules);

- Art. 14 (Crime preparation);

- Art. 258 (Terrorist act).

In this regard, the president of Energoatom Petro Kotin appealed to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

"The occupiers continue to commit criminal acts. They violate the requirements of the operating license issued by SNRIU (to transfer all units of the station to a cold shutdown), as well as the requirements of the IAEA. This is a deliberate and intentional violation of the norms of Ukrainian and international legislation. Inevitable punishment awaits the Russian invaders," the message states.

As Kotin emphasized, by using the plant as a military base and by putting the reactor into a hot shutdown state, the Russian occupation administration violates all the norms of the plant's nuclear and radiation safety.

Also, the president of Energoatom appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, emphasizing the need to call on the IAEA to take measures to influence the occupying administration of ZNPP to transfer all power units of the plant to a cold shutdown state and to spread a corresponding note among the IAEA's member countries.

As reported, the IAEA's Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said that IAEA experts have observed directional anti-personnel mines at ZNPP.