“A nuclear accident can be the result of a direct attack on the station, but also by stopping electricity”
The head of the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) Rafael Grossi arrived in Kiev today where he inspected an electricity substation, and warned that attacks on Ukraine’s electricity grid can create the risk of a nuclear accident.
‘I am on the Kiifska substation that constitutes an important part of Ukraine electricity networkGrossi wrote on the X platform. “A nuclear accident may be the result of a direct attack on the station, but also caused by the interruption of electricity supply“.
I’M at Kyivska Electrical Substation – An Important Part of Ukraine’s Power Grid Essential for Nuclear Safety.
A Nuclear Accident Can Result from a Direct Attack on a Plant, but also from Power Supply Disruption. @Iaeaorg is here to assess impact, support, & Help Prevent that risk. pic.twitter.com/kd29wkvnhn– Rafael MarianoTossi (@rafaelmgrossi) February 4, 2025
Grossi posted photos showing him visiting the substation along with Energy Minister German Galussenko showing him the means of dealing with Russian attacks.
Moscow, during its three -year invasion, has repeatedly bombed Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including substations, although it has avoided direct blows to Ukraine nuclear power stations.
Grossi said he would visit Russia later this week to discuss the situation in Ukraine and at the Zaporizia nuclear power station under Russian occupation. Russia occupied the nuclear station shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“It is important to maintain, in the context of fulfilling my obligations, constantly communication channels,” Grossi said during media briefing.
Last week, the IAEA said in a statement that Grossi would visit Kiev for high -level meetings to secure nuclear security in the war in Russia in February 2022.
In September, Ukraine and IAEA agreed that experts in the international organization would monitor the situation in Ukraine’s important substations as well as nuclear power stations.
More than 50% of the electricity consumed in Ukraine is produced by three nuclear power stations. Russian rocket attacks and unmanned aircraft on substations threaten the steady operation of nuclear power stations, according to the Ukrainian Nuclear Inspector Office.
The Kifska substation allows for the transfer of excess capacity from Western Ukraine to central areas thanks to the Rivne-Kiev transport line, which extends to hundreds of kilometers, helping to provide electricity to Kiev and the surrounding area.
‘An increasingly fragile electricity grid is an increasing risk for all nuclear stations“Grossi told X, referring to the nuclear stations.
Source :Skai
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