Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has issued a dire warning, stating that the world is teetering on the brink of a "nuclear catastrophe." His remarks come amid escalating tensions surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian occupation for two years.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has sounded the alarm, cautioning of the heightened risk of a "major nuclear accident" following a recent drone attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The attack, which occurred last night, has stirred tensions as Russia accuses Ukraine of orchestrating the assault, while Kyiv vehemently denies any involvement.

Amidst Ukraine's urgent need for additional power sources following the closure of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, negotiations are underway for a groundbreaking deal between Ukraine and Bulgaria. Ukraine aims to secure the purchase of two nuclear reactors from Bulgaria to bolster its energy capacity, with hopes of finalizing the agreement as early as June.

Overnight Russian airstrikes targeted energy facilities across Ukraine, leaving over 1 million energy consumers in the country without electricity, as reported by Reuters.

The airstrikes primarily focused on regions in eastern Kharkiv Oblast, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Poltava Oblast, resulting in widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of residents.

The Ukrainian president announced on Twitter that he has information that Russian forces have placed devices similar to explosives on the roofs of the facilities at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Aug. 6 accused Russia of using the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant "for terror" after the operator of the facility reported major damage at the site.

Kiev and Moscow accused each other of striking Europe's largest nuclear site on Aug. 5, causing a reactor stoppage as three grain ships departed Ukraine under a deal to avert food shortages.

Russia is using Europe's largest nuclear power plant as a base to store weapons including "missile systems" and shell the surrounding areas of Ukraine, an official with Kyiv's nuclear agency has said.

"The situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Ukraine is not sustainable, which could prove dangerous," warned Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Russians took over the same power plant in early March, and Grossi now warns that his organization is unsuccessfully trying to access the largest nuclear plant in Europe.