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Russia Prepares to Restart Occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Posing New Security Risks

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Maryna_kulakova
Maryna Kulakova
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Russia Prepares to Restart Occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Posing New Security Risks
Radiation protection engineers walk past the New Safe Confinement at Chornobyl on the disaster's 37th anniversary amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukraine has evidence that Russia has not abandoned its plans to restart the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and integrate it into the energy system of the temporarily occupied territories.

According to nuclear energy and safety expert Olha Kosharna, Russian forces have the capability to restart one of the ZNPP’s reactors, which has been under Russian occupation since March 2022, Glavkom reports in an article titled “Zaporizhzhia NPP: Three Years Under Occupation. How Russian Priests and Soldiers ‘Launch’ the Reactor.”

Kosharna noted that last fall, Russia issued its first license for handling ionizing radiation sources at the plant, signaling preparations for reactivating its reactors.

She added that Russia is fully capable of bringing at least one reactor online and has plans to construct a pumping station on the Konka River in Kherson region to supply water for cooling. Konka, a relatively powerful river, could provide sufficient resources to restart two of ZNPP’s reactors.

Recent reports indicate that Russia is also reviewing a license for operating a dry storage facility for spent nuclear fuel at ZNPP. Kosharna also cited Rosatom ’s director, who suggested that the first reactor unit of ZNPP could be restarted soon.

Kosharna previously warned that if Russian forces withdraw from ZNPP, they are likely to leave key locations mined and the facility heavily looted—a tactic previously seen at Chornobyl NPP, where Russian troops damaged infrastructure before retreating.

Ukraine has repeatedly called on the international community to take urgent action to prevent further nuclear escalation by Russia.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko stressed that nuclear facilities must never become military targets and urged a united global stance against Russia’s violations of IAEA  statutes.

“The current situation is unstable. The international community must not remain passive in the face of Russia’s blatant violations of the IAEA Charter. It is crucial that all nations take a firm and unified stance against Russia’s actions. Nuclear safety must never be compromised,” Halushchenko emphasized.

He also recalled Russia’s unprecedented attack on the new protective arch at Chornobyl NPP, as well as the ongoing threat posed by Russia’s occupation of ZNPP.

Earlier, it was reported that the IAEA conducted a rotation of its observers at the ZNPP without Ukraine’s consent, through temporarily Russian-occupied territory, escorted by Russian military personnel.

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Rosatom (Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation) is Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company responsible for the country’s civilian and military nuclear programs. It has also been directly involved in the occupation and management of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) since Russian forces seized the facility in March 2022.

The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) is the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, responsible for promoting the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear energy while preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Since Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in 2022, the IAEA has repeatedly warned about serious nuclear safety risks and has deployed monitors to the site.