Devendra Kumar
The world is fortunate that a nuclear accident has not occurred at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to the UN nuclear chief, Rafael Grossi. Grossi, who made the statement to the UN Security Council, urged Moscow and Kyiv to commit to preventing any attack on the plant and to make pledges that would “avoid the danger of a catastrophic incident.” He reiterated his previous statement made to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors in March, where he warned that “we are rolling a dice and if this continues then one day our luck will run out.”
Grossi emphasized that avoiding a nuclear accident is possible if five principles are observed at the plant, where fighting has disrupted critical power supplies on seven occasions, including most recently last week. According to Grossi, IAEA experts at the plant will start monitoring and he will publicly report on any violations of these principles. The principles, which Grossi respectfully and solemnly asked Ukraine and Russia to observe, include banning attacks from or against the plant, particularly targeting reactors and spent fuel storage areas, as well as banning the storage of heavy weapons or the presence of military personnel that could be used for an attack.
Additionally, Grossi asked that the security of an uninterrupted off-site power supply to the plant be ensured, and that all structures, systems, and components essential to the plant’s operation be protected from attacks or acts of sabotage. He also urged that no action be taken to undermine these principles. Grossi asked the 15 Security Council members to support the five principles, emphasizing that they are “to no one’s detriment and to everyone’s benefit.”
As the Kremlin’s forces took control of the plant following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly opposes any proposal that would legitimize Russia’s control. Grossi’s plea for caution and adherence to these principles is an urgent reminder of the gravity of the situation and the potential consequences of a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia plant.