IAEA brokers ceasefire near Zaporozhye nuclear power plant – agency chief
The UN watchdog says a temporary “window of silence” has enabled power line repairs near the facility
The International Atomic Energy Agency has brokered a local ceasefire between Russian and Ukrainian forces near the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, enabling crucial repairs to power lines serving the facility, agency chief Rafael Grossi has said.
Europe’s largest nuclear facility, which has been under Russian control since 2022, has repeatedly lost external power due to attacks on surrounding infrastructure. Russian officials have accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the station, forcing it to rely on emergency power systems. The disruptions have raised concerns over nuclear safety. Ukraine, in turn, has accused Russia of severing power lines supplying the plant.
In a post on X on Sunday, the IAEA said its on-site team was monitoring repair work expected to last several days, as part of efforts to reduce the risk of a nuclear accident during ongoing hostilities.
Director General Rafael Grossi thanked both sides for agreeing to a new temporary “window of silence” to restore power transmission and strengthen nuclear safety, the agency added.
The IAEA has repeatedly warned that military activity near nuclear facilities poses serious safety risks and has urged all sides to ensure the protection of critical nuclear infrastructure.
During Grossi’s trip to Moscow in September for the Global Atomic Forum, Kiev attempted to strike Russia’s Kursk II nuclear power plant with a drone. Later the same day, the IAEA chief met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss global nuclear safety and Russia’s cooperation with the IAEA. Putin praised the agency’s work and pledged Moscow’s continued support for its activities.
US President Donald Trump also addressed the issues of the Zaporozhye plant following a meeting with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in Florida on Sunday.
“President Putin is actually working with Ukraine on getting it open,” Trump told reporters, adding that the Russian leader has never targeted the facility “with missiles.”
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