Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant 'not designed to withstand fighting'

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine, the largest in Europe, faces significant risks due to ongoing fighting in the area. Controlled by Russian soldiers since March, the plant has six uranium-235 fueled reactors. There are concerns about shelling at the site, with satellite images showing potential damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned Russian forces against using the plant for military purposes, while the International Atomic Energy Agency has called for a halt to military action near the plant to ensure safety.

A nuclear scientist in Ukraine highlighted that although the ZNPP's reactors, built to the VVER-1000 design, are more modern and have better containment structures than those at Chernobyl, they are not designed to withstand military fighting. The plant's safety depends not just on the reactor containment but also on auxiliary equipment that ensures cooling. Risks include potential damage to liquid and solid radioactive waste storage, which could lead to radiation leaks. As of August 15, Energoatom reported that the ZNPP was operating safely but under the threat of ongoing shelling, with risks of hydrogen leakage, radioactive substance sputtering, and high fire danger. Auxiliary buildings and radiation monitoring sensors at the site have been damaged, and a fire station outside the plant has been shelled, increasing fire risks. There was also a report of a plant staff member receiving shrapnel wounds.