IAEA on the status of the Zaporizhzhia NPP: Grossi calls for an agreement between Ukraine and Russia

Statement of the IAEA Director General

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, emphasized the need for a 'special status' for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the conclusion of a cooperation agreement between Ukraine and Russia in the event of peace being established. In his interview with Reuters, Grossi noted that the risk of a nuclear accident remains high if hostilities do not cease.

'As long as the war does not stop or there is no ceasefire, there is always the possibility that something could go very, very wrong.' Rafael Grossi

Grossi also pointed out that 'no operator can use a nuclear power plant when another country is on the other side of the river resisting it'. The Zaporizhzhia NPP is currently occupied by Russia, which increases the risks associated with its safety.

Criticality of the situation

The situation around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains critically important not only for Ukraine but also for the entire region, as nuclear risks can have far-reaching consequences. Defining a special status for the plant could be an important step towards ensuring its safety and preventing potential disasters that may be provoked by the continuation of hostilities.

The importance of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia underscores the necessity for international cooperation in the field of nuclear safety in the context of the ongoing conflict.