Prospect of Nuclear Accident ‘Dangerously Close’ at Zaporizhzhia Power Plant in Ukraine, International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Warns Security Council
In the wake of recent attacks on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — Europe’s largest — the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog warned the Security Council today that the first-ever war to be fought amid the facilities of a major nuclear power programme is bringing the prospect of nuclear accident “dangerously close”.
“Let me put it plainly — two years of war are weighing heavily on nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” stressed Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Recalling that attacks on the plant on 7 April were the first to target the facility since November 2022, he underscored: “These reckless attacks must cease immediately.” While they did not lead to a radiological incident this time, they significantly increase risk at the plant, where nuclear safety is already compromised.
He went on to point out that, even though the plant’s six reactors are now in cold shutdown, the potential danger of a major nuclear accident remains. While IAEA will continue its monitoring mission, he said that its teams need timely access to assess the plant’s condition and evaluate the cumulative impact of 26 months of war on nuclear safety. Urging Council support for the Agency, he said: “We cannot sit by and watch as the final weight tips the finely balanced scale.”
In the discussion that followed, Council members called for the immediate cessation of attacks against the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and underlined the need to reduce the risk of nuclear incident. While some members urged all parties to the conflict towards dialogue and restraint, others spotlighted the Russian Federation’s invasion and occupation of the plant as the source of risk and urged Moscow to return the facility to Ukrainian control.
Among them was Slovenia’s representative, who stated: “Playing with fire is unadvisable — playing with nuclear fuel rods, even less so.” Joining others in expressing concern that access to certain relevant sites was denied to IAEA staff, he stressed that the Agency’s presence at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants is a vital stabilizing factor. “Enough is enough,” he underscored, calling on the Council to act and on the Russian Federation to immediately grant IAEA access and return the plant to Ukrainian control.
“It is Russia who must ultimately correct the situation by returning control of the facility to the competent Ukrainian authorities,” said the representative of the Republic of Korea. Observing that the occupation of the plant is an extraordinary situation that “calls for renewed norms and principles for nuclear safety and security”, he said that IAEA experts must have full access to the facility and enjoy full support for their monitoring and early warning activities.
While Algeria’s representative also urged the parties concerned to work positively with IAEA experts, he said that nuclear safety and security in Ukraine cannot be discussed in isolation from the crisis in general. Stressing that the legitimate concerns of all must be met to find a lasting peace, he called for joint global efforts to strengthen nuclear safety, for the establishment of a nuclear protection zone and for the use of diplomatic channels to find peace.
The representative of the Russian Federation, meanwhile, spotlighted “direct, deliberate” strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant — “responsibility for which Kyiv’s leader is cynically trying to shift to Russia”. Underscoring that Ukraine’s actions are flagrant violations of IAEA principles, he called on the Agency’s leadership to “recognize this obvious fact”, cease walking this “linguistic tightrope” and point to the source of attacks on the plant.
For his part, Ukraine’s representative stated that recent incidents at the plant were “a well-planned false flag operation by the Russian Federation”, aimed at shifting the focus from the only way to remove threats to nuclear security — de-occupation of the plant. Questioning who would believe that Ukraine would wish a repeat of Chornobyl 1986, he said this is an idea that could only enter the minds of Kremlin propogandists who “openly dream of radioactive dust replacing Ukrainian cities”.
“The lessons of history, such as the Chornobyl disaster, have shown the devastating and long-lasting consequences of nuclear accidents,” noted the representative of Mozambique. Calling for the immediate cessation of attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, he added: “The stakes could not be higher.” Echoing that was Guyana’s representative who, while welcoming that recent attacks have not seriously compromised nuclear safety, observed that this was more by accident — “or perhaps sheer luck” — than by design. Adding that fragile, dangerous conditions at the plant pose significant risks, Sierra Leone’s representative urged the Council to “maintain a unified stance on the imperative of upholding nuclear safety”.
THREATS TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
Briefing
RAFAEL MARIANO GROSSI, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recalled that it has been more than two years since the war began — “the first ever to be fought amid the facilities of a major nuclear power programme”. IAEA staff are continuously present to monitor the situation at all five of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants — including at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which remains under Russian Federation operational control. At this point, he recalled the five principles he established in the Council chamber on 30 May 2023 to prevent a nuclear accident and maintain the integrity of the Zaporizhzhia plant. These are: there should be no attack of any kind from or against the plant; the plant should not be used as storage for heavy weapons or military personnel; off-site power to the plant should not be put at risk; all structures, systems and components essential to the plant’s safe operation should be protected from attack or sabotage; and no action should be taken that undermines these principles.
He pointed out, however, that — despite clear support from Council members and Ukraine — the first of these principles has been violated repeatedly in what marks a “step-change increase in risk” to nuclear safety and security at the plant. On 7 April, the International Support and Assistance Mission to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant confirmed the first attacks since November 2022 to directly target the plant. “These reckless attacks must cease immediately,” he underscored, noting that — while they have not led to a radiological incident this time — they significantly increase the risk at the plant, where nuclear safety is already compromised. Also pointing out that the plant is currently relying on just two lines of external power, he spotlighted at least four occasions over the past year when the plant has had only one line of external power.
“Let me put it plainly — two years of war are weighing heavily on nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” he stressed. Every one of the IAEA’s seven pillars of nuclear safety and security have been compromised, he observed, urging: “We cannot sit by and watch as the final weight tips the finely balanced scale.” Even though the plant’s six reactors are now in cold shutdown, the potential danger of a major nuclear accident remains. For its part, the IAEA will continue to closely follow the plant’s operational status and provide technically viable alternatives. “Our work at this facility remains essential,” he underscored, adding that this has been recognized by all parties, regardless of their side in this conflict. However, to be effective, IAEA teams need timely access to assess the plant’s condition and evaluate the cumulative impact of 26 months of war on nuclear safety. “We are getting dangerously close to a nuclear accident,” he stressed, urging the Council to support the IAEA’s principles, pillars and role.
Statements
The representative of Slovenia said there can be no understatement about how dangerous the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant has become. “The seven indispensable pillars for nuclear security and safety and the five basic principles for the protection of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant must be respected,” he said. “Playing with fire is unadvisable, playing with nuclear fuel rods even less so.” The IAEA staff presence at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants is a vital stabilizing factor. Concerned that the Agency’s team at Zaporizhzhia was denied access to some of the relevant sites and unable to assess the full impact of the damage from last Tuesday’s attack, he said the Russian Federation should immediately grant the team access and return the plant to Ukrainian control. The unpredictability of the war “has brought us to the brink of a disaster that would be devastating for the whole region and would have global impacts”, he said. “Enough is enough! The Security Council needs to act and it needs to act now.”
The representative of the United States stressed: “Every member of this Council should agree on a fundamental point — it is imperative that we avoid a nuclear incident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.” However, the Russian Federation’s war and continued control of the plant pose an extraordinary risk of nuclear accident — a direct result of Moscow’s decision to continue waging an illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war against Ukraine. “But the reality is that Russia does not care about these risks,” he said, stating that Moscow would not continue to forcibly control the plant if it did. He also expressed concern that the plant is being operated by an “insufficient cadre of improperly trained, unlicensed operators”, which represents a dangerous and unsustainable posture. He therefore called on the Russian Federation to return full control of the plant to “competent Ukrainian authorities as the rightful owner”.
The representative of the United Kingdom noted with deep concern the reports of explosions and rifle fire on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and several rounds of outgoing artillery fire from near the facility. “It is vital to reduce the risk of a nuclear incident, at Zaporizhzhia and across Ukraine,” she said. She urged against any action which could violate the five concrete principles for upholding safety at Zaporizhzhia and for IAEA experts to be given full access to the plant. “One country, however, has a far greater ability to the nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine than any other,” she said, and called on the Russian Federation to hand back the plant to the Ukrainian authorities, end its war and remove all its troops from Ukraine’s sovereign territory.
The representative of China said that recent drone attacks against the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and repeated shelling of its surrounds “points to a situation that is deeply worrying”. Emphasizing that nuclear accidents transcend national borders, he expressed support for the IAEA’s constructive role in enhancing the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. For its part, China has made financial donations to the technical assistance programme for Ukraine’s nuclear safety and security. He called on all parties concerned to exercise restraint, comply with relevant international law and “strictly observe the bottom line of nuclear safety”. Adding that the ultimate resolution of the crisis depends on political settlement, he further called on all parties to uphold the principle of “indivisible security” and resume peace talks at an early date.
The representative of Japan said his delegation remains deeply concerned about nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine, particularly at the Zaporizhzhia plant. All parties must ensure that Europe’s largest nuclear power plant does not pose the risk of nuclear disaster, “otherwise, consequences will befall not only Europe but the entire world”. The IAEA’s role at the site is essential, and it must have unlimited and prompt information as well as unrestricted and timely access. The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine and occupation of the plant are “the original sources of these problems and risks”. He urged the Russian Federation’s “immediate and unconditional withdrawal” from the entire territory of Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia plant.
The representative of Switzerland called on the Russian Federation and Ukraine to fully implement and respect the seven pillars and five principles established by the IAEA “at all times” and to refrain from hostilities near and against nuclear facilities. Welcoming the cold shutdown of all six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as “a positive development in a fragile situation”, she urged that control of the plant be returned to competent Ukrainian authorities. Further, she called for prompt access for IAEA experts to all relevant areas of the plant, for an immediate improvement in staff working and living conditions and for an end to discriminatory administrative practices in staffing.
The representative of Algeria pointed to the alarming escalation of threats to nuclear safety and security due to the crisis in Ukraine. He urged all parties concerned to work positively with IAEA experts to establish strict safety protocols at all nuclear power plants in that country and to observe international law. Nuclear safety and security in Ukraine cannot be discussed in isolation from the crisis in general, he said. He called on all parties to avoid a nuclear catastrophe until a cessation of hostilities is found, stressing that the legitimate concerns of all must be met to find a lasting peace. Joint global efforts to strengthen nuclear security in Ukraine and the world are needed, as are a nuclear safety and protection zone and the use of diplomatic channels to find peace.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that it “sounds strange” when the IAEA Director General uses depersonalized phrases when speaking of attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, even though the IAEA knows who is responsible because its staff are present at the facility. Stating that Ukraine is conducting reckless attacks on the plant and its surrounds “with the connivance of Western sponsors”, he said that the Russian Federation Armed Forces are downing over 100 unmanned aerial vehicles each week. While regular reports are made to the Council and IAEA about these “unacceptable actions”, he pointed out that Western members “do not want to recognize the reality of the threat posed by Kyiv”. Detailing several such incidents, he spotlighted “direct, deliberate” strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant — “responsibility for which Kyiv’s leader is cynically trying to shift to Russia”.
“Those playing along with Kyiv should ask why is it that, out of Ukraine’s five nuclear power plants, Russia is only endangering this one,” he said, adding: “If you have even a sliver of logic, then the absurdity of such allegations becomes obvious.” However, he observed that Western Council members have spoken in ultimatums — “hand back control of ZNPP and then we’ll stop shelling it” — which amounts to admissions of participation in these irresponsible strikes. The Russian Federation has never stationed heavy weaponry in the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, nor attacked from its territory. Further, the IAEA experts on the ground were invited by the Russian Federation. Underscoring that Ukraine’s actions are flagrant violations of IAEA principles, he called on the Agency’s leadership to “recognize this obvious fact”, cease walking this “linguistic tightrope” and point to the source of attacks on the plant. “This is not a political issue,” he stressed.
The representative of Ecuador said a possible nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia plant could trigger catastrophic consequences affecting the region and the environment of the whole planet. Echoing the IAEA Director General’s statement that attacks on a nuclear power plant are unacceptable, he urged moderation and restraint from all parties of any actions that compromise the plant’s structural and operational integrity. There must be compliance with the seven pillars and the five concrete principles for nuclear security. Unhindered and timely access for IAEA staff “to all relevant areas is fundamental”, he said. The Council must do everything within its power to prevent the war going into nuclear terrain, he underscored, adding that all parties must uphold international humanitarian law.
The representative of Mozambique recalled that his delegation has consistently warned that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine could “spill over into the nuclear domain”. “The lessons of history, such as the Chornobyl disaster, have shown the devastating and long-lasting consequences of nuclear accidents,” he observed. Calling for the immediate cessation of attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, he said that only direct dialogue and diplomacy can establish a foundation for lasting peace and security in the region. “The stakes could not be higher,” he added.
The representative of France said that events over the last week have heightened concerns over the Zaporizhzhia plant. This serious incident illustrates that the current situation is untenable. “It’s imperative for these attacks to cease,” she said. No attack of any kind should come from nor towards the Zaporizhzhia plant. The Russian Federation must end the militarization of the plant which exposes the world to the risk of a major nuclear accident with serious human and environmental consequences. She called for the end of the occupation of the plant with full control returned to the Ukrainian authorities. Reactor safety must be maintained, including keeping the reactors shut down as much as circumstances will allow, she added. Concerned that the IAEA team was imperiled by recent attacks, she underscored that the team should have open access to do its work.
The representative of Guyana condemned recent drone attacks on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and called on the parties to the conflict to “eliminate such plans from their military strategies”. While welcoming that the attacks have not seriously compromised nuclear safety, she observed that this was more by accident — “or perhaps sheer luck” — than by design. Calling on the Russian Federation to cooperate with the IAEA and protect the integrity of all nuclear power plants under its control in Ukraine, she also urged Moscow to completely withdraw its military forces and “end this devastating war”.
The representative of the Republic of Korea said the direct military action on the Zaporizhzhia plant for the first time since November 2022 means “we have crossed another chilling threshold approaching potential nuclear disaster”. Taking hostage nuclear safety in the region must cease immediately. “It is Russia who must ultimately correct the situation by returning control of the facility to the competent Ukraine authorities,” he said. He welcomed the adoption of the IAEA Board of Governors’ resolution last month, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring nuclear safety and security. The occupation of the plant is an extraordinary situation that “calls for renewed norms and principles for nuclear safety and security”. In this regard, his delegation lends its full support to the seven indispensable pillars and the five concrete principles. IAEA experts must have full access to the facility and be fully supported in their monitoring and early warning activities.
The representative of Sierra Leone called for a thorough, impartial investigation of incidents at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. It is imperative to establish the facts to prevent similar attacks in the future, he observed, also calling on all Council members to support efforts aimed at ensuring the protection of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. Adding that fragile, dangerous conditions at the plant pose significant risks, he stressed that — in light of recent incidents — the Council must “maintain a unified stance on the imperative of upholding nuclear safety and security standards”.
The representative of Malta expressed deep concern about the recent drone strikes against the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. “No military strikes can ever be allowed against nuclear facilities, let alone against the largest nuclear power plant in Europe,” she said. The five concrete principles and the seven pillars for nuclear security “represent an indispensable framework for our collective security and must be respected”. IAEA staff should be present at all nuclear facilities in Ukraine, she said. The militarization of the plant by the Russian Federation is deplorable. Its full control should be returned to the legitimate Ukrainian authorities. She stressed the importance of universal adherence to the IAEA’s positions and respect for its work. “We call on the Russian Federation to do the same,” she said.
The representative of Ukraine reiterated that “the only root cause of all risks to nuclear safety and security is Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine”. He then stated that the 7 and 9 April incidents at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant were “a well-planned false flag operation by the Russian Federation”, aimed at shifting the focus from the only way to remove threats to nuclear security — de-occupation of the plant. He emphasized that the Russian Federation is attempting to move the debate to “fabricated issues designed to blame Ukraine in the hope of removing the issue of de-occupation from the agenda”. To this end, Moscow wants the world to believe that nuclear reactors — designed to withstand the heaviest of strikes — were attacked with low-power, close-range, first-person-view drones designed to target infantry and small vehicles. Meanwhile, progressive militarization of the plant and adjacent occupied territory remains a part of the Russian Federation’s military strategy.
On that, he spotlighted outgoing artillery fire recorded by the International Support and Assistance Mission to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant; the presence of Russian Federation military equipment and personnel, confirmed by independent observers and IAEA; and continued IAEA reports of staff denied access to certain locations within the plant. He further noted that Russian Federation military actions regularly lead to the loss of off-site power and detailed other violations, including planting anti-personnel mines at the plant’s perimeter, switching off automated radiation data transmission and failing to provide timely, full maintenance. “The return of the station to the full control of Ukraine is the only guarantee of nuclear and radiation safety,” he urged, rejecting the “insane allegations” that Ukraine may cause nuclear disaster. Questioning who would believe that the country would like a repeat of Chornobyl 1986, he said this is an idea that could only enter the minds of Kremlin propogandists, as only they “openly dream of radioactive dust replacing Ukrainian cities”.
The representative of Latvia, also speaking on behalf of Estonia and Lithuania and aligning himself with the statement of the European Union, expressed deep concern that the Zaporizhzhia plant was directly targeted in a military action, escalating the security risks, including the risk of a nuclear accident at the site. “Any further escalation at the Zaporizhzhia plant resulting from Russia’s illegal actions may pose unimaginable consequences” that could reverberate across borders and generations, he said. He called for maintaining focus on the long-term solution, which is very simple: If the Russian Federation withdraws from the plant and the whole of Ukraine there would be no more concerns about nuclear safety and security.
But, he noted, the Russian Federation’s actions go “in the opposite direction”. It is expanding its campaign of attacks on Ukraine’s critical civilian infrastructure. “Russia is trying to brutally subjugate Ukraine and its people by cutting their access to electricity, water and other vital amenities. The only reason for this punishment is Ukraine’s heroic resistance to Russia’s senseless aggression,” he said. The international community must not allow the Russian Federation to endanger nuclear safety and security in Ukraine or elsewhere any longer. The IAEA needs full support in fulfilling its mandate and Ukraine must be assisted in its efforts to repel the Russian Federation’s attack.
The representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, said the latest alarming developments, as reported by the IAEA, are highly disturbing and add to the bloc’s concern. The recent attacks once again underscore “that Russia’s illegal seizure of the plant significantly increases risks to nuclear safety and security, potentially leading to accidents with severe consequences for Ukraine, and beyond”. Attacks from or against the Zaporizhzhia plant are irresponsible and unacceptable. In the past weeks, the Russian Federation has also intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Such air strikes against critical civilian infrastructure are unacceptable, he said. The five principles and seven pillars for nuclear safety and security must be respected at all times.
IAEA experts must be able to do their work unhindered, he said. The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw forces from the plant and all of Ukraine. He said returning the plant to full Ukrainian control “is the only lasting solution to bring to an end the current serious threats to nuclear safety and security at the facility”. He underlined the European Union’s unwavering support to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. “The EU stands with Ukraine and in support for the UN Charter for as long as it takes,” he said.
The representative of Poland said recent drone attacks at the Zaporizhzhia plant “once again underscore the fact that Russia’s actions significantly increase risks to nuclear safety and security, potentially leading to accidents”. He stated that the plant should not be used as a storage or a base for heavy weapons or military personnel that could be used for an attack. The Russian Federation’s actions in and around Ukrainian nuclear facilities, particularly the illegal annexation of the Zaporizhzhia plant, will never be accepted. “It is absolutely clear that the only reason to discuss this extremely dangerous case is the Russian aggression against Ukraine — this is the source of the significant deterioration of the security situation, including its non-proliferation dimension,” he said.
The resolutions of the IAEA General Conference and the Board of Governors adopted so far — some initiated by Poland — are very important in this context. All the resolutions described the Russian Federation’s military presence as a direct threat to the nuclear safety, security and safeguards situation in Ukraine, he noted. “We will continue to call on Russia to withdraw its military equipment and all personnel, including that of ROSATOM, from the ZNPP, and to return its full control to its rightful owner, which is Ukraine,” he said. He called on the Russian Federation to stop playing with fire, “for the sake of the well-being of current and future generations”.
Mr. GROSSI, taking the floor a second time, welcomed — “despite the obvious political differences that exist” — unanimous support for IAEA’s work. Noting that 16 April will mark the eighteenth rotation for IAEA staff at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, he said that the Agency will continue its work and keep the Council informed of the situation on the ground.