Mines Placed by Russian Occupiers Remain in Zaporizhzhia NPP’s Territory

Mines placed earlier by the invaders remain in the territory of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

“The team performed walkdowns within the perimeter of the ZNPP. The team did not observe any heavy weapons but confirmed that the previously reported mines remain in place,” reads the statement by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

As noted, the IAEA experts visited the main control rooms of units 2, 5, and 6, where they observed that units 2 and 5 remain in cold shutdown and unit 6 in hot shutdown. In addition, the team visited the emergency diesel generators for units 4 and 5 and performed walkdowns within the perimeter of the ZNPP.

“Staffing levels of the plant continue to be a concern with a significant number of staff having left the ZNPP since the start of the armed conflict, including licensed operators from the main control rooms,” the IAEA said.

The experts also confirmed that the radiation levels at the nuclear power plant remained normal and informed about the completion of the drilling of wells, which can now provide additional water for cooling the reactors in the shutdown state.

“Over 200 cubic meters of water can now be supplied to the sprinkler ponds that cool the ZNPP’s six reactors and spent fuel,” the statement reads.

In addition, an additional well is intended to be drilled at the site to provide approximately 250 cubic metres of water per hour to maintain the cooling of the reactors and spent fuel pools in the current shutdown state.

It is reported that the ZNPP cooling pond remains intact, containing a large volume of water that can also provide cooling to the ZNPP’s shutdown reactors for many months.

Bohdan Marusyak