Update 357 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

IAEA teams based at nuclear power plants in Ukraine have heard sounds of military activity several times in recent days, including drones and gunfire, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

The reports highlight the persistent risks to nuclear safety and security during the ongoing conflict, underlining the challenging conditions facing these sites and the importance of continuing efforts by the IAEA to help prevent an accident. There were no reports of damage to the plants.

The IAEA team at the Khmelnytskyy Nuclear Power Plant (KhNPP) heard military aircraft early on 8 July, and was later informed that drones were detected north of the site. The South Ukraine NPP (SUNPP) reported the detection of six drones early on 5 July and three drones on 2 July. At the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the IAEA team heard gunfire on 6 July followed by the sound of a drone flying overhead while they were outside. The team immediately moved indoors.

In another reported incident, the IAEA was informed by the Russian Federation that a drone on 5 July hit and damaged a cooling tower of a power unit under construction at the Kursk NPP-2.

"These incidents show that the nuclear safety and security situation remains fragile during the war, with military activity continuing to take place near major nuclear facilities," Director General Grossi said. "I once again call for maximum military restraint around nuclear sites and for full respect of the Seven Indispensable Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict, as well as for the Five Concrete Principles for protecting the ZNPP."

Separately, the ZNPP on 3 July temporarily lost all off-site power for the 21st time since the start of the conflict. The plant told the IAEA team that the 330 kilovolt (kV) Ferosplavna-1 line was quickly restored, but that two lines connecting it to the site had disconnected after protection systems were activated, extending the duration of the ZNPP's loss of off-site power. The site reported no physical damage to those lines.

All available emergency diesel generators started automatically to provide the electricity needed for essential safety functions. The site later recovered the connection to Ferosplavna-1 through the recently restored 330 kV ZNPP back-up transformer line, and the last emergency diesel generator was stopped about two hours after the event began. The second transmission line connecting the ZNPP to the Ferosplavna-1 line also resumed approximately one hour later. The cause of the latest loss of off-site power was not yet known.

The ZNPP's main 750 kV Dniprovska power line remains unavailable despite recent repairs, following damage in May to an associated electrical substation located more than 100 kilometres northwest of the plant.

"A loss of off-site power, even if brief, is always a serious concern for nuclear safety," Director General Grossi said. "Reliable external power is needed to maintain the operation of essential safety systems. Repeated power losses show why this situation is not sustainable."

The IAEA also continued its nuclear safety and security assistance to Ukraine. The Agency delivered an electric water heater with a voltage stabilizer to the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, made possible with funds from the United States.

Since the beginning of the armed conflict, the IAEA has completed more than 240 deliveries in response to emergency requests from nearly 50 entities across Ukraine.