Taking Control Of Ukraine's Largest European Nuclear Power Plant: Russia Deploys Staff, Restricts Communications With Outside World

Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/Ralf1969)

JAKARTA - Russian forces who seized Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, placed the staff who run the facility under their command and restricted communications with the outside world, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Sunday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was "deeply concerned" about developments at Zaporizhzhia, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, citing information from Ukraine's nuclear regulator.

"Ukraine reports that any action by plant management, including actions related to the technical operation of the six reactor units, requires the prior approval of the Russian commander," the IAEA said in a statement.

"In a second serious development, Ukraine has reported that Russian troops at the site have turned off some mobile networks and the internet, so that reliable information from the site cannot be obtained through normal communication channels," he added.

Ukrainian authorities said Russian troops had taken control of Zaporizhzhia on Friday after setting fire to an adjacent training facility. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry blamed the attack on Ukrainian saboteurs, calling it a "terrible provocation".

The fire was quickly extinguished and there was no damage to the reactor or release of radioactive material. But the incident raises concerns about the potentially disastrous consequences if the conflict damages any of the country's four nuclear power plants operating.

Separately, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi voiced concern over information received from Ukrainian officials about Russian troops placing staff under their command.

"In order to operate the plant safely and safely, management and staff must be allowed to carry out their vital duties in a stable condition without undue interference or external pressure."

The IAEA also expressed concern about developments at another Ukrainian site seized by Russia, the spent fuel and radioactive waste facility at Chernobyl, next to the now-defunct power plant, where the world's worst nuclear accident occurred in 1986.

More than 200 people there, both technical staff and guards, had not left since February 23, the day before being arrested, the IAEA said, although the UN agency asked the technical staff to be rotated on security grounds.

To note, the Ukrainian regulator said it was "facing communication problems with personnel" at Chernobyl, the IAEA said, adding communication was only possible via email.