A new expert team from the International Atomic Energy Agency crossed the frontline this week to travel to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), replacing colleagues who have been monitoring nuclear safety and security at the site over the past several weeks as part of the IAEA's non-stop efforts to help prevent a radiological accident during the military conflict.
It is the 25th IAEA Support and Assistance Mission stationed at the ZNPP since Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi set up an Agency presence there in September 2022. It was followed a few months later by the establishment of similar IAEA missions at Ukraine's four other nuclear facilities - the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine nuclear power plants (NPPs) and the Chornobyl site.
Over the past week, the teams at the three operating NPPs - which currently provide much of Ukraine's electricity supplies - also rotated successfully.
"We will stay at these sites for as long as it is needed to help avert the threat of a nuclear accident that could have serious consequences for human health and the environment in Ukraine and beyond. As the nuclear safety and security situation remains highly challenging, our experts are continuing to play a crucial stabilizing role at all these facilities," Director General Grossi said.
In their daily work, the IAEA teams assess nuclear safety and security at the five sites, provide relevant information to the public and the international community, and deliver on a comprehensive programme of technical support and assistance to Ukraine that includes nuclear safety and security-related equipment as well as expertise and advice. The IAEA also provides medical assistance.
At the ZNPP, reactor unit 1 was returned to cold shutdown mode on 2 November after welding and radiography tests were successfully completed on one leaking impulse line, as reported last week. The plant continues to analyse the underlying cause of the defect, which had no direct nuclear safety impact.
Over the past week, the IAEA team members examined the current power configuration at the ZNPP, an area which remains a deep source of concern for nuclear safety and security. They were informed that two backup transformers had resumed operation after successful high voltage testing in late October, and that maintenance would be carried out on the four remaining backup transformers by the end of the year.
With the ZNPP, they have also discussed the plant's preparations for the cold winter months, receiving confirmation that all six reactors will remain in cold shutdown, with required heating provided by on-site boilers instead.
The IAEA team also visited the reactor and containment building of unit 4 without identifying any nuclear safety and security issues, as well as some of the emergency diesel generators of units 1 and 5.
During the past week, the team has continued to hear frequent explosions, some distance away from the ZNPP. No damage to the ZNPP was reported.
The IAEA teams at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and the Chornobyl site reported that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the effects of the ongoing conflict, including air raid alarms for several days over the past week.
