Nuclear disaster fears explode as expert issues Ukraine power plant meltdown warning | World | News
A fire in the cooling tower of the Russian controlled zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (Picture: Ukraine Presidential Press Ser)
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is facing the risks of its longest darkening since Russia’s 2022 invasion, and an expert on the fatal fragility of a single line of power. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the facility lost its final connection to the external network on September 23rd and pointed out the 10th deduction since the war began.
As of Friday, ZNPP, all six reactors remained in an inactive cold closure, but requires continuous electricity for power cooling systems for used nuclear fuel. IAEA General Manager Rafael Grossi described the situation as “not explicitly sustainable in terms of nuclear security” during talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials this week. Nickolas Roth of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Tumbe Deck, emphasized the fragility of the power infrastructure of the facility.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin (Picture: Getty)
Express.co.uk told: “For a large part of this year, the site is based on a single functional transmission line instead of multiple unnecessary connections.
“This creates a single point of failure: If a line falls, the facility loses the electricity required to ensure the operation of cooling and safety systems.”
The deduction was attributed to fighting near the facility, and Ukraine accused the Russian forces of bombing the last 750 kV line.
A Greenpeace satellite investigation published on Wednesday could not even find great damage by fueling the sabotage speculation.
Moscow rejected the allegations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called them “stupid” and claimed that he would not target a facility under Russia’s control.
ZNPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, was arrested by the Russian forces in March 2022 and was officially annexed by Moscow after the controversial referendum that year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Picture: Getty)
The facility no longer produces electricity for the grill, but it contains thousands of tons of fuel used to remain dipped in water to prevent overheating. President Volodymyr Zelensky, including Ukrainian officials, described the darkening “critical” and said that spare generators were never designed for long -term use “.
Mr. Roth summarized certain risks in case of total loss of power. “Full loss of power, cooling systems fail if cooling systems fail,” referring to the need for unexpected situation plans to reduce such scenarios.
The authority also called on the governments to “develop plans to ensure the continuity of nuclear security operations during major crises”, including regular exercises that simulate extended external threats.
Among the recommended measures are to protect supply chains for diesel fuel, transfer the fuel to dry barrels when possible and secure the external power supplies.
Ukrainian nuclear security official Dmytro Gumeriuk repeated these concerns: “The state he runs in diesel generators already represents a risk. Even soothing is still not typical. Generators may fail and monitor continuously.”
Existing fuel reserves are expected to last more than 10 days, while facility personnel return eight operational generators, nine of them remain on waiting and three are maintained.
Ukraine: Putin says ‘can use zaporizhzhia as a weapon’
However, access to repairing the damaged line has been blocked by the active war in the region, where Russian progress in 2025 has not yet reinforced full control.
Under the Russian occupation, IAEA ZNPP has limited access and has complicated supervision. Roth emphasized the need to prohibit IAEA’s attacks on its facility or infrastructure, and the need for commitment to the five nuclear security principles that provide the usability of off -site power.
Mr. Roth said: “Both Russia and Ukraine should confirm their commitments.
“The facility should not be used to store or maintain heavy weapons or military personnel that may be used for attacks. The out -of -field power should not be risky and all kinds of efforts should be made to ensure its availability and security.”
Emphasizing the human element, “First of all, Ukrainian reactor operators should be able to manage the plant without fear for their lives and their families. They need safe working conditions and open communication lines with their national regulators.”
In a statement made by the European Foreign Action Service on October 2, the European Union expressed his concern and called for both sides to give priority to the increase in the surrounding area.
“Last week, Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost the connection again with its last external power supply and immediately called for restoration.
Russian officials at the factory announced on Thursday that two additional substitutes will be activated to support materials. In spite of these steps, Mr. Grossi warned that long -term confidence in diesel increases the risk of mechanical failure and potentially increased to a radiological release similar to the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.
The situation evokes the memories of 1986 Chernobyl melting in Ukraine and Europe. The cold closure of ZNPP immediately reduces the melting risks compared to Chernobyl’s business reactors, while experts such as Mr. Roth prove that volunteering may be deadly.
He said: “Through close coordination, governments, nuclear facilities and regulators should do regular exercises, including those who go beyond the design-basic threat.”
As the diplomacy continues, IAEA reports that the facility remains constant for now. However, while continuing near the facility, the error margin is a razor.
