The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday urged the UN Security Council to unambiguously support five principles aimed at preventing a nuclear accident amid the war in Ukraine, now in its 15th month.
Delivering his latest update, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reported that the situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant - the largest in Europe - continues to be extremely fragile and dangerous.
Military operations continue in the region "and may well increase very considerably in the near future," he warned.
Rolling the dice
The Zaporizhzhya plant has come under fire during the war. It has lost off-site power seven times and had to rely on emergency diesel generators - "the last line of defence against a nuclear accident," he said.
"We are fortunate that a nuclear accident has not yet happened," Mr. Grossi told ambassadors.
"As I said at the IAEA Board of Governors last March - we are rolling a dice and if this continues then one day, our luck will run out. So, we must all do everything in our power to minimize the chance that it does."
A specific request
The Ukraine crisis marks the first time in history that a war is being fought amid the facilities of a major nuclear power programme. Several of the country's five nuclear plants and other facilities have come under direct shelling, and all nuclear plants have lost off-site power at some point.
Since September, the IAEA has maintained a presence at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, which was occupied by Russian forces in the early days of the conflict, with a "significantly reduced" Ukrainian staff carrying out operations.
Throughout the war, the IAEA chief has repeatedly elaborated seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security, which include maintaining the physical integrity of facilities and ensuring secure off-site power supply.
"The time has come to be more specific as to what is required. We must prevent a dangerous release of radioactive material," he said.
Five concrete principles
Following extensive consultations, including with the sides, Mr. Grossi developed five concrete principles essential for averting "a catastrophic incident" at the Zaporizhzhya plant.
"There should be no attack of any kind from or against the plant, in particular targeting the reactors, spent fuel storage, other critical infrastructure, or personnel," he said, outlining the first point.
The nuclear plant also should not be used as storage or a base for heavy weapons, such as multiple rocket launchers, or military personnel that could be used for an attack emanating from the plant
Off-site power to the plant should not be put at risk, and all efforts should be made to ensure it always remains available and secure, he said.
Furthermore, all structures, systems and components essential to the safe and secure operation of the plant, should be protected from attacks or sabotage. Finally, no action should be taken that undermines the five principles.
"Let me say something very clearly: These principles are to no one's detriment and to everyone's benefit. Avoiding a nuclear accident is possible. Abiding by the IAEA's five principles is the way to start," said Mr. Grossi.
