All power units of Zaporizhzhya NPP are currently in cold shutdown, but the main threats to nuclear and radiation safety at ZNPP arise from its occupation and militarization by russia. This is how Oleh Korikov, Head of SNRIU - Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine, commented on the IAEA information on the transfer of power unit № 4 to the cold shutdown.

He stated that as a result of the occupation, ZNPP has been turned into a military base, unqualified personnel are present at the plant, criminal actions of the russian invaders have led to the loss of the Kakhovka reservoir as a reliable source of water supply, and power lines (which are used to supply the plant's own needs) are often damaged as a result of russian shelling. All these factors pose a major threat to nuclear and radiation safety.

“The cold state of power units is safer than the hot state. If the power units are in a cold state, we can talk about reducing water consumption, as water resources are limited after the destruction of the Kakhovka reservoir, and reducing electricity supply from the Ukrainian power system. From the point of view of nuclear and radiation safety, in case of a complete blackout of the plant, the time margin increases before the possible destruction of safety barriers to the spread of radiation into the environment”, Oleh Korikov said on the air of the United News telethon (April 13, 2024).

He reminded that according to SNRIU orders № 501 of August 18, 2022 and № 338 of June 28, 2023, all power units of Zaporizhzhya NPP should be in a cold state. However, the occupants ignored the decision of the nuclear regulatory authority of Ukraine for a long time and continued to switch ZNPP power units to hot state one by one.