One of radiation monitoring stations was destroyed near ZNPP - IAEA

According to Ukrinform, this was stated by Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, according to the IAEA website.

Grossi stated that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has informed the IAEA that the external radiation monitoring station was destroyed by shelling and fire this week, further reducing the effectiveness of its off-site capabilities to detect and measure any radioactive releases during an emergency.

He stressed that this has further reduced the ability to detect and measure any radioactive releases during a possible emergency at ZNPP.

Communication with the monitoring station located about 16 kilometres southwest of the plant was lost on Monday afternoon. Due to shelling, the IAEA team was unable to access the site to confirm the damage.

The IAEA noted that of the 14 radiation monitoring stations in the 30-kilometre zone around the plant, four were completely lost, and some others were not working at different times due to damage.

Grossi pointed out that the operation of external radiation monitoring equipment is an important part of nuclear safety around the world.

"The loss of one radiation monitoring station does not have a direct impact on safety at the ZNPP, but it forms part of a continuous erosion of a range of safety measures during the war that remains a deep source of concern," he said.

As reported, two substations were damaged in the temporarily occupied Enerhodar, where most of the Zaporizhzhia NPP staff live, over the past few days.

ZNPP has been under occupation since 4 March 2022. During this time, the Russians have repeatedly violated nuclear safety principles by deploying military equipment on the plant's territory, mining the area and terrorising the staff. The invaders ignore the IAEA's decision to return ZNPP to Energoatom's control.