Critical Situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant: What Experts Say About Safety
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) cannot be operated safely due to the current situation, but there are possibilities for its rectification. Experts emphasize the need to halt reactor operations until the end of the war.
The critical situation around the ZNPP threatens its safe operation. According to specialists, all reactors should remain in cold shutdown mode until the end of hostilities, a stance supported by the European Commission. Restarting the plant under Russian control shortens the response time in the event of an accident, claims Jan Vande Putte, a radiation safety specialist and Greenpeace expert.
International experts, including Dmitri Gorchakov from Bellona, suggest several solutions to the problem. The best solution for now is returning the plant under Ukraine’s control through diplomatic means, possibly involving mediators. The creation of a demilitarized zone around the plant or its transfer under U.S. or European management is also being considered. Another option is the complete decommissioning of the ZNPP and the removal of all materials.
The critical situation at the ZNPP is not only patently dangerous but could also have serious political consequences. Its inability to be returned to Ukraine could prompt other countries to take aggressive actions against nuclear facilities in the future. The commission insists on returning the plant to Ukrainian regulators, and China could stand on the side of peace, helping to stop the attacks.
The current unstable situation was further complicated by regular disconnections from the power grid. The latest blackout occurred on December 13 during a Russian attack when the plant was disconnected from the Ukrainian power system for over an hour.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 23 | 10th blackout since the beginning of the occupation |
| October 23 | Restoration of external power supply |
