The nuclear power plant of Zaporizhzhia has been in blackout for almost three weeks, which creates concerns about the nuclear security of the occupied territory. In another move to stop Russia’s shelling, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has requested that Russia cease and facilitate the immediate repair of power lines linking the Plant to the Ukrainian grid.
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains in blackout for nearly three weeks
Sybiha says that Russia deliberately cut the tie in order to violently test its integration with its own grid, which he said had never been done in the history of nuclear generation. He used a warning that such moves would lead to a nuclear incident unless power is restored in the near future.
Foreign Minister Criticises Russia in Unauthorised Actions
Sybiha opined that the effort by Russia to reconnect the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station to its grid is an illegal seizure of a non-violent plant. He had further noted that the activities of the state corporation, Rosatom, in unauthorised acts are against the established standards of safety in nuclear operations and the operational licences in Ukraine.
Andrii Sybiha urges Russia to cease attacks and allow repair teams.
The minister placed the blame for the blackout on Moscow as one tactic to influence the perception of the outside world. He said that Russia was deceiving the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international diplomatic authorities by indicating that Ukraine was the one to cause the disconnection of the Plant.
Plant Remains Cut Off from Ukrainian Grid Since September
On September 23, the day the last working power line in the system between the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the grid of Ukraine was destroyed, the power crisis started. This was preceded by the cutting of a backup line in May, and there was no safe line to pass electricity.
The national energy company of Ukraine, Energoatom, has confirmed that the external line at the Ukrainian side is still operating; however, the Russian forces have denied permission to repairers to reach the damaged zone. This has seen the facility relying on the use of diesel generators to keep important cooling systems running.
Shelling Near the Facility: IAEA Experts Report
On October 6, the IAEA established that its personnel based at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant heard numerous rounds of shelling in the area. Such reports occurred at the time when the blackout was in week three, and so the world was becoming extremely worried about the stability of the Plant.
IAEA teams monitor the situation amid rising safety concerns
The media controlled by the Russian state accused Ukraine of the attacks. Nevertheless, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine termed the shelling as an act of provocation by Russia aimed at shifting the blame and warranting further military actions around the facility.
Ukraine Threatens Nuclear Safety
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the current blackout is extremely dangerous to the stability of the largest nuclear Plant in Europe. Even though the six reactors have been shut down since early 2022, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant still needs constant electricity to ensure safe cooling processes.
Sybiha cautioned that the lack of restoration of power and access of repair teams by Russia would cause a safety crisis in the whole region. He requested that hostilities be immediately stopped and power restored to continue under Ukrainian oversight.
International Community Called to Action
Sybiha addressed the world community to understand the activities of Russia and Rosatom as dangerous and unlawful. He called upon international partners and the IAEA to pressurise Moscow more diplomatically and technically to ensure that all unapproved tasks in the location are halted.
He further stated that the state of affairs needed emergency measures to ensure that there was no further escalation that might result in an expanded environmental or humanitarian disaster. Kyiv still supports the idea of complete demilitarisation of the Plant and its transfer back to Ukrainian control.
Demands of Restoration and Return of Control
Ukraine is continuing to argue that the only way the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant can be safe is by the withdrawal of Russian troops and the reestablishment of its control. The government insists that the international monitoring teams should have unlimited access to check on whether the safety procedures are being followed.
Sybiha repeated that Russia could stop the threat posed by the blackout by suspending the attack and repairing the power lines. He emphasised that further intervention in the activities of the Plant contradicts international law and endangers the safety of the rest of the European continent.
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Final Thoughts
The long-term blackout of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant highlights why the risk of military occupation of vital energy infrastructure continues to be present. Since Ukraine and its allies demand immediate intervention, the world is observing keenly to avert the possibility of having an unprecedented nuclear crisis in contemporary Europe.
