The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, issued a dramatic warning on Maundy Thursday, citing the risk of a nuclear catastrophe in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.

“If we do not protect the plant, sooner or later we will be out of luck, which could lead to serious consequences for public health and the environment,” Mr. Grossi said in a statement released in Vienna, where the headquarters is located. IAEA.

“We are living in the long term in terms of the safety of the Zaporozhye NPP,” Mr. Grossi warned, stressing that the situation is out of control due to ongoing fighting near the facilities (i.e. those captured by Russian forces since March 2022 ). , explaining it was mostly pure luck that there was no nuclear accident.

The report notes that two mine explosions occurred a few meters from the fence of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the first on Saturday and the second on April 12.

Mr. Grossi visited the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad last week, where he expressed concern to Russian officials. This was preceded by his visit to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the second since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned on Thursday that the plant, which houses six nuclear reactors, depends on only one transmission line to remain operational, posing a “serious risk to nuclear safety.” He adds that the second power line, which was damaged on March 1, has not yet been repaired.

The International Atomic Energy Agency does not miss the opportunity to draw attention to the shortage of qualified personnel, which is reported at the Zaporozhye NPP.

Source: APE-ME, ERT.