On the sidelines of the Fifth Extraordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, which is taking place in Vienna (Austria), Head of SNRIU - Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine Oleh Korikov met with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi.

During the meeting, Oleh Korikov emphasized that any intention of the russian occupiers to bring ZNPP power units to the energy levels for electricity generation poses a great danger of accidents with radiation consequences that will have transboundary effects. Such actions would completely contradict the terms of the license, rules and regulations on nuclear and radiation safety.

“We are well aware that the safety systems and equipment of the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP are far from being in the best condition. More than two years of military occupation, lack of proper maintenance and repairs, incompetent and illegitimate personnel have led to a significant degradation of nuclear and radiation safety and lack of emergency response capability. In addition, the Kakhovka Reservoir, which performed an important function of uninterrupted water supply, especially when operating ZNPP units at power levels, was destroyed as a result of the russian invaders' blowing up the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. Therefore, any attempts to resume electricity production at ZNPP are another cynical blackmail by the russian occupiers”, Oleh Korikov stated.

The SNRIU Chairman noted that safe operation of ZNPP is possible only after its demilitarization, de-occupation and return under the control of Ukraine. He added that the legitimate operator of ZNPP, SE «NNEGC «Energoatom», has already developed a concept for the resumption of safe operation of ZNPP nuclear facilities after de-occupation and demilitarization. The ZNPP operator and the SNRIU also take into account international experience in resumption of nuclear facilities operation after the final shutdown when developing approaches to the resumption of ZNPP operation and licensing.

Oleh Korikov emphasized that constant shelling of Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities by the russian military, which leads to full or partial blackouts, creates additional risks for nuclear and radiation safety of nuclear power facilities, negatively affects the safety of enterprises involved in the management of nuclear materials, radioactive waste, and ionizing radiation sources, and should be stopped.

During the meeting, the SNRIU Chairman and the IAEA Director General also discussed the work of the Agency's permanent monitoring missions at Ukrainian nuclear power plants, including the occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP, and considered a number of proposals to expand their functions in order to obtain the most complete information on the state of nuclear and radiation safety.

Rafael Mariano Grossi assured that the IAEA constantly directs its efforts and applies all possible levers of influence to ensure the implementation of the seven fundamental pillars of safety and five safety principles at nuclear and radiation facilities of Ukraine, including those under occupation by the russian federation.