Ukraine Protests to IAEA Over Russia’s Construction of Power Lines to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

 

Ukraine Protests to IAEA Over Russia’s Construction of Power Lines to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Ukraine has formally protested to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding reports that Russia is constructing power lines to connect the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to its grid. Ukrainian official Yuriy Vitrenko emphasized that Kyiv views any attempt by Russia to integrate the occupied plant into its power network as a serious violation of international law and Ukrainian sovereignty. According to a Greenpeace report cited by The New York Times, Russia has been building more than 50 miles (about 80 kilometers) of power lines between the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Berdyansk, which are under Russian control. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly warned that attempts to restart the plant are dangerous, citing risks posed by Russian personnel unfamiliar with the plant’s sophisticated equipment, the uncertain condition of the site, and the recent destruction of the Kakhovka dam, which has led to flooding and water shortages crucial for cooling the reactors. The IAEA chief, Rafael Grossi, indicated that the issue of the plant’s potential restart and the ongoing construction would be addressed during upcoming visits to Ukraine and possibly Russia. The situation remains tense, given security concerns and the critical need to avoid nuclear catastrophe in a conflict zone.

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