Foto: BB.LV / Запорожская АЭС
According to Reuters, citing the Russian state corporation "Rosatom," the agreement was reached with the mediation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This concerns the repair work at the nearby thermal power plant, which provides external power supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. In September, the energy infrastructure was damaged as a result of shelling, creating additional risks for nuclear safety. Rosatom's Director General Alexey Likhachev stated that specialists have already begun repair work. According to him, restoring the power supply is especially important in the run-up to the autumn-winter period, when risks associated with weather conditions and the consumption of diesel fuel necessary for the operation of backup generators increase. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, under Russian control since March 2022, is currently not generating electricity. All six of its reactors are shut down; however, the plant still requires a constant power supply to cool the nuclear fuel and maintain safety systems. In the event of a loss of external power supply, the plant is forced to switch to backup diesel generators. A prolonged loss of power with backup systems failing could lead to overheating of the fuel and a serious nuclear accident. In early October, the IAEA reported damage to transformers at the nearby thermal power plant as a result of a series of drone attacks. At that time, the agency's head, Rafael Grossi, began negotiations for a new local ceasefire necessary for repair work. Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of military actions that pose a threat to the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The main question now is whether the temporary ceasefire can be maintained and the repairs completed without new shelling. At the time of publication, Reuters reported the agreement based on information from the Russian side; the actual completion of the work has not yet been confirmed.
