Security at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains fragile amid staff cuts enacted by Russian authorities occupying the facility, the UN’s nuclear watchdog chief has said.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi, who is in Kyiv, will visit the plant tomorrow after Russia denied access to employees of Ukraine’s energy company Energoatom who refused to sign contracts with a Russian operator.
Formerly employing 12,000 staff, only 2,000 to 3,000 remain at the plant and are thought to have adopted Russian citizenship.
“To man, to operate these very sophisticated big installations you need a certain number of people performing different specific functions,” said Mr Rossi.
“So far the situation is stable, but it is a very, very delicate equilibrium. So this is why I need to see for myself what the situation is.”
Mr Rossi said he would also check the stability of the facility’s cooling functions.
The IAEA has repeatedly expressed fears over the plant’s position on the frontline, caught in the crossfire since Russia seized the facility.
Its six reactors have been shut down for months, but they still require power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features.
The plant suffered yet another blackout last month.
“All these things tell us that the situation in Zaporizhzhia continues to be fragile and it requires constant care,” Mr Grossi said.
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