IAEA: Increased risks for Kursk and Zaporizhzhzhia nuclear power plants

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warns of threats to the Kursk and Zaporizhia nuclear power plants, which are exposed to military tensions in Russia and Ukraine.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

7-Day Pass

Up to 50 articles accessible for 7 days, with no automatic renewal

3 €/week*

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles/month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 30,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Fighting in Ukraine and Russia raises major nuclear safety concerns.
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, expresses his concerns about the Kursk power plant in Russia and the Zaporijjia power plant in Ukraine.
These plants are located in areas of intense military confrontation, and their safety is under threat.
At a meeting in Kaliningrad, Rafael Grossi described the situation at the Kursk plant as “alarming”.
The two reactors currently operating on this site have no specific protection against possible strikes or accidents linked to the conflict.
Located in a region where Ukrainian forces led an offensive in early August, the Kursk plant could be directly affected by hostilities.
Grossi insists on the need for heightened vigilance and rigorous management to avoid serious incidents.

Direct threats to strategic infrastructures

The Russian-controlled Zaporijjia power plant remains the focus of concern.
Recent damage to a cooling tower has highlighted the site’s vulnerability.
While Moscow accuses Ukraine of orchestrating the attack via drones, Kiev denies any involvement.
This facility, the largest in Europe, is regularly targeted, with each side blaming the other for incidents.
The stakes are clear: guaranteeing nuclear safety in a context of conflict requires precise and rigorous management.
The Kursk and Zaporizhia facilities are critical infrastructures whose safety is crucial not only for the countries in conflict, but also for the entire European region.

International Coordination and Follow-up

Rafael Grossi calls for continuous monitoring of nuclear sites in conflict zones.
He asserts that power plants must never become military targets, insisting on compliance with international conventions on the subject.
Discussions with Rosatom’s Alexei Likhatchev show agreement on the possibility of sending IAEA experts to sites in the event of an immediate threat.
The situation calls for coordinated action and total transparency between the parties involved.
The slightest failure in communication or safety could have serious consequences for the environment and the population.
The Kursk plant, although “operating normally” according to Rosatom, remains under strict observation by the IAEA.
Any change in the fighting near these facilities will require rapid intervention.

Risk Management and Preparedness for Extreme Scenarios

Rapidly changing military situations around these power plants mean that we need to be prepared for extreme crisis scenarios.
Safety protocols need to be adapted in line with developments in the field.
The IAEA’s role remains central to assessing threats in real time and ensuring that appropriate measures are put in place.
Rafael Grossi’s recent announcements on the situation at Kursk and Zaporizhjia underline the need for ongoing dialogue and enhanced cooperation between the IAEA and local authorities.
The current geopolitical context leaves no margin for error.
Nuclear safety in these conflict regions is an urgent priority, requiring ongoing efforts and dedicated resources.

The State Duma has approved Russia’s formal withdrawal from a treaty signed with the United States on the elimination of military-grade plutonium, ending over two decades of strategic nuclear cooperation.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was not in Poland’s interest to extradite to Germany a Ukrainian citizen suspected of taking part in the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022.
Al-Harfi and SCLCO signed agreements with Syrian authorities to develop solar and wind capacity, amid an ongoing energy rapprochement between Riyadh and Damascus.
Faced with risks to Middle Eastern supply chains, Thai and Japanese refiners are turning to US crude, backed by tariff incentives and strategies aligned with ongoing bilateral trade discussions.
France intercepted a tanker linked to Russian exports, prompting Emmanuel Macron to call for a coordinated European response to hinder vessels bypassing oil sanctions.
The activation of the snapback mechanism reinstates all UN sanctions on Iran, directly affecting the defence, financial and maritime trade sectors.
Commissioner Dan Jørgensen visits Greenland to expand energy ties with the European Union, amid plans to double EU funding for the 2028–2034 period.
European and Iranian foreign ministers meet in New York to try to prevent the reinstatement of UN sanctions linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announces a bilateral agreement with Mexico including targeted investments in energy corridors, logistics infrastructure and cross-border security.
The US president has called for an immediate end to Russian oil imports by NATO countries, denouncing a strategic contradiction as sanctions against Moscow are being considered.
Tehran withdrew a resolution denouncing attacks on its nuclear facilities, citing US pressure on IAEA members who feared suspension of Washington’s voluntary contributions.
Poland’s energy minister calls on European Union member states to collectively commit to halting Russian oil purchases within two years, citing increasing geopolitical risks.
Athens and Tripoli engage in a negotiation process to define their exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean, amid geopolitical tensions and underwater energy stakes.
European powers demand concrete steps from Tehran on nuclear issue or United Nations sanctions will be reinstated, as IAEA inspections remain blocked and tensions with Washington persist.
Brussels confirms its target to end all Russian energy imports by 2028, despite growing diplomatic pressure from Washington amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Donald Trump threatens to escalate US sanctions against Russia, but only if NATO member states stop all Russian oil imports, which remain active via certain pipelines.
The two countries agreed to develop infrastructure dedicated to liquefied natural gas to strengthen Europe's energy security and boost transatlantic trade.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls for modernising the oil industry and expanding export markets as Tehran faces the possible reactivation of 2015 nuclear deal sanctions.
The Ukrainian president demanded that Slovakia end its imports of Russian crude, offering an alternative supply solution amid ongoing war and growing diplomatic tensions over the Druzhba pipeline.
The United States cuts tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%, while Tokyo launches a massive investment plan targeting American energy, industry, and agriculture.

All the latest energy news, all the time

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

7 DAY PASS

Up to 50 items can be consulted for 7 days,
without automatic renewal

3€/week*

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.