Europe

Staff at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under Russian orders, IAEA says

The takeover comes after the largest nuclear plant in Europe was set on fire on Friday

A fire at Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, was was extinguished after shelling by Russia, the State Emergency Service said. Photograph: EPA/Zaporizhzhya NPP

Sun Mar 6 2022 - 18:17

Staff at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant continue to operate it, but management is now under the orders of the commander of the Russian forces that seized it last week, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Sunday, citing Ukraine’s regulator.

“I’m extremely concerned,” International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement, adding that Russian forces had cut off some mobile networks and the internet, complicating communications with the plant.

“Management and staff must be allowed to carry out their vital duties in stable conditions without undue external interference or pressure.”

The IAEA chief said Ukraine reported operational teams at Zaporizhzhia were now rotating in three shifts but there were problems with availability and supply of food, which was having a negative impact on staff morale.

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The IAEA said the Ukrainian nuclear regulator reported that it had started having major problems in communicating with staff operating the Zaporizhzhia plant.

Radiation levels at the plant remained normal, the agency said.

The IAEA reported problems meantime communicating with personnel at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, saying the only channel currently is email. That site is also under Russian control.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, was seized by Russian forces on Friday, after an attack that started a fire close to one of its six reactors. No release of radiation was reported. The US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the world narrowly averted a "nuclear catastrophe" and condemned Russia's actions as "reckless" and "dangerous". The US embassy in Ukraine says the attack on the nuclear plant is a war crime. –Reuters

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