The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed concern that severe fires near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant pose a threat to the country’s external power supply.

There have been several fires near the power plant and its surroundings, including under overhead power lines that are crucial for the power supply to the power plant.

Although no power lines were shut down, the IAEA stressed the vulnerability of the plant’s external power supply, particularly given the ongoing extreme summer heat.

“The vulnerability of electricity infrastructure across the country remains a major concern. It is critical that the electricity grid remains stable across Ukraine to maintain nuclear safety at all nuclear power plants,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

On July 11, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for Russia to withdraw from the nuclear power plant and return full control of the facility to Ukraine.

The Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. Its location near the front line has led to increased nuclear security risks during Russia’s all-out war.

Nearly 5,000 workers evacuated from Russian-occupied nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, says minister

Around 5,000 workers have been rescued from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said during a press conference on July 19.