Vienna, June 6: The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has urged maximum military restraint and strict adherence to the local ceasefire following reports of injuries among Russian personnel near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
On Friday, the IAEA reported that some Russian soldiers were injured during the removal of landmines as part of the local ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the IAEA announced the initiation of a local ceasefire near the Zaporizhzhia NPP, allowing for essential repairs to the plant’s critical power line.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized that restoring the power line, located away from the plant, is a significant and positive step for nuclear safety, benefiting all parties involved.
Grossi reiterated the urgency and necessity of repairing the main 750-kilovolt power line, which has been out of service for over two months. During military conflicts, the Zaporizhzhia NPP relies on emergency diesel generators for cooling its six inactive reactors due to power outages.
One of Europe’s largest nuclear facilities, the Zaporizhzhia plant has been under Russian control since March 2022.
On Friday afternoon, Alexey Likhachev, the head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, reported Ukrainian drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia NPP. According to the Russian news agency Interfax, Likhachev stated, “Three of our engineers were injured, two of whom are in serious condition.”
The IAEA noted that an investigation into the incident is ongoing, while the Ukrainian side has expressed its commitment to the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, the operator of the Zaporizhzhia NPP announced that repair work on a crucial external power line supplying electricity to the plant has commenced.
Experts are working to restore the 750-kilovolt Dniprovskaya transmission line, which has been out of service since March 24. The operator indicated that the ceasefire, aimed at ensuring the safety of personnel working on energy infrastructure, has made this work possible.
The Dniprovskaya line is a vital part of the plant’s external power supply system. Its restoration is expected to enhance power reliability and promote nuclear and radiation safety.
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