Power outage in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant: security alarm in Ukraine!

Power outage in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant: security alarm in Ukraine!

Power supply has again failed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, raising concerns about the security situation and operational viability of one of Europe's largest nuclear facilities. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) This is the tenth power outage since the start of the Ukraine war. Emergency power supply via diesel generators has already begun to ensure the cooling of the reactors.

The Ukrainian nuclear company Enerhoatom and the power plant management appointed by Russia have confirmed the failure. Russia has accused Ukraine of shelling a power line, which led to this incident. The last power interruption occurred at the beginning of July, meaning that emergency generators had to be used back then. Against the background of this incident, the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant remains tense. The power plant has been under Russian control since March 2022.

Risks and safety precautions

The safety precautions in the Ukrainian nuclear power plants have been at risk since the beginning of the war. Petro Kotin, the head of Energoatom, speaks of a decline in the security culture in the region. The IAEA has pointed out that since the invasion of Russian troops in 2022, the security situation has deteriorated dramatically. A particularly alarming detail is that any bombardment of fuel elements could lead to a catastrophe comparable to the historic Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant consists of six reactors, which together hold 163 fuel elements per reactor. These reactors absolutely need to be cooled, even when they are shut down. The nuclear power plant's cooling system is heavily dependent on external power supplies; Diesel generators remain the last line of defense against a potential meltdown.

Political tensions and further developments

The conflict between Moscow and Kyiv continues to intensify. According to reports, there were attacks on the nuclear power plant, with bullets piercing the roof. This has led to an increase in attacks and repression against employees at the power plant, while the international community is increasingly concerned about the safety of the plant. Around 200 people were reportedly tortured and 30 staff members are missing. These conditions contradict fundamental Geneva Conventions and raise questions about the legal control of the nuclear power plant.

International observers are immediately on site to monitor the situation, which only adds to the urgency and uncertainty of the current situation. Last year, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant went through several periods in which it was not connected to the grid, resulting in total dependence on emergency generators. In October 2022, Russia specifically targeted Ukraine's power grid to cause a complete blackout, exacerbating an already critical situation.

The international community remains concerned as Ukraine continues to struggle to maintain safety standards at its nuclear power plants and deal with the effects of war. The head of Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, recommends creating a common stock of spare parts for Europe in order to minimize future risks.