IAEA calls for limiting military activity against Ukrainian NPPs' infrastructure

The Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear power plants were forced to reduce power production as a result of damage to their electrical substations by Russian attacks, the IAEA said in a statement published on the organization's official website on Saturday.

“Despite today’s re-establishment of back-up power at the ZNPP, developments elsewhere in Ukraine underlined the highly precarious nuclear safety and security situation during the conflict. Two operating NPPs – Khmelnytskyi and Rivne – had to reduce output of electricity today following an overnight attack on an electrical substation critical for nuclear safety and security. Last week, Rivne also temporarily reduced output following damage to another substation, underscoring the importance of such energy infrastructure for the safe operation of NPPs,” IAEA said in its statement.

“Electrical substations are critical for our efforts to maintain nuclear safety and security during the war. Their continued degradation is a deep source of concern in this regard. I continue to call for maximum military restraint in order to maintain nuclear safety and avoid an accident with serious radiological consequences,” the IAEA quoted Director General Grossi as saying.