On the Brink: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in Ukraine Engulfed in Radiation Fear [Global Focus]

Continued Shelling in Front of Europe's Largest and World's 9th Largest Nuclear Plant
Concerns Over 'Chernobyl' Reenactment Amid Russian Power Grid Replacement Attempts
IAEA Inspection Team to Be Sent... Outcome Uncertain

A Russian soldier is standing guard near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located in Enerhodar city, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine, has been occupied by Russian forces since early March. As clashes continue between Ukraine and Russia, concerns over a potential radioactive leak are increasing. Enerhodar, Ukraine ? Reuters/Yonhap News Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Since the 28th of last month (local time), the Ukrainian government has been distributing potassium iodide (KI) pills, which prevent the accumulation of radiation, to 400,000 residents living within 35 miles (approximately 56 km) of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

This measure is in preparation for a potential large-scale radioactive leak accident as Russian forces continue shelling cities near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Oleksandr Starukh, governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, expressed concern on the day, stating, "Russian forces bombarded cities across the river from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant overnight," adding, "These cities are located less than two hours away from the plant."

Since March, the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe currently occupied by Russia, has been under threat, raising fears of a second 'Chernobyl' disaster. Russia’s forced attempts to change the plant’s power lines and militarize the area have placed the plant in a critical and volatile situation.

The existing international community’s nuclear crisis management capabilities, centered around the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), are also expected to face a new test. The NPT meeting was effectively disrupted by Russian obstruction, and there are concerns that Russia may not properly accept the IAEA’s inspection requests for the Zaporizhzhia plant, making future international cooperation on nuclear management highly challenging.

◇ Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s Largest... Produces 20% of Ukraine’s Electricity

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where fighting between Ukraine and Russia continues, is the largest single nuclear power plant in Europe and supplies more than 20% of Ukraine’s total electricity generation.

According to the BBC, the Zaporizhzhia plant located in Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine, is the largest in Europe and ranks ninth worldwide among large nuclear power plants. Built in 1985 during the Soviet era, it houses a total of six reactors.

Ukraine has a total of 15 reactors, including those at the Zaporizhzhia plant, Rivne Nuclear Power Plant (4 reactors), South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (3 reactors), and Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (2 reactors).

In particular, the Zaporizhzhia plant is considered Ukraine’s largest power producer and a strategic stronghold. Russian forces occupied the site in early March shortly after the invasion. However, the operation and management of the plant have continued to be handled by employees of the Ukrainian state-owned nuclear company Energoatom.

According to CNN, since the occupation, Russian forces have installed trenches and militarized the site. As fighting with Ukrainian forces intensified, missile fragments struck the plant buildings, causing fires and threatening safety.

◇ Russia’s Forced Power Line Changes Raise Explosion Concerns

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The safety of the Zaporizhzhia plant, already threatened by ongoing clashes, is further endangered by Russian forces’ forced changes to the power lines, increasing the risk of a major accident.

On the 25th, Russian forces occupying the Zaporizhzhia plant cut off the existing power grid connected to the plant. It is also reported that two of the six reactors were shut down. This caused a large-scale blackout in southern Ukraine for a day.

According to CNN, since occupying the plant in early March, Russian forces have attempted to replace the power grid with one connected to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia forcibly annexed in 2014. The goal is to cut off power connections to adjacent Ukrainian areas, causing power shortages there, while supplying stable power to the strategically important Crimean Peninsula under Russian control.

However, this forced power grid replacement has made it difficult to supply the necessary power for operations such as cooling within the plant, increasing the risk of a major accident.

Petro Kotin, CEO of Energoatom, warned in an interview with the UK’s Guardian, "There are emergency generators inside the plant, but the entire plant can only produce power to last about an hour and a half. If Russia continues to force the power grid replacement and power supply is completely cut off, the cooling system will stop, the reactor will melt down, and a very dangerous accident will occur."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also condemned the situation at a press conference, stating, "If the Zaporizhzhia plant staff had not taken action after the power supply was cut off, a large-scale radioactive leak would have occurred," adding, "Because of Russia, Ukraine and all of Europe are facing a radiation disaster."

However, Russian forces have shifted blame, claiming that Ukrainian forces are attacking near the plant. Igor Konashenkov, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense, said at a media briefing, "Ukrainian forces shelled the Zaporizhzhia plant yesterday, and three shells landed near a special facility storing nuclear fuel and radioactive waste," harshly criticizing Ukraine.

◇ IAEA and NPT Nuclear Management Capabilities Also Put to the Test

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The international community’s ability to manage the nuclear crisis at the Zaporizhzhia plant has also come under scrutiny. The IAEA announced it will dispatch an inspection team within days, and attention is focused on whether a proper inspection will take place.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the IAEA has organized an inspection team composed of nuclear experts from 13 countries, including China, Poland, Lithuania, and Serbia, and plans to send the team to the Zaporizhzhia plant within days. Previously, the IAEA warned that ongoing fighting around the plant and Russia’s forced power grid cutoffs could lead to a large-scale nuclear accident at the plant.

However, Russia’s uncooperative stance, demonstrated by obstructing the recent NPT meeting, raises concerns that it may hinder the inspection team’s activities. According to the Associated Press (AP), Russia rejected most resolutions at the final session of the 10th NPT Review Conference on the 26th, and the meeting ended without any agreement. For an NPT resolution to be adopted, all 191 member states must approve it.

It is reported that Russia opposed the NPT agreement because of clauses related to the Zaporizhzhia plant. According to AP, the draft agreement included condemnation of Russia regarding the Zaporizhzhia situation and called for Russia to promptly return control of the plant to Ukraine.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.