Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
IRGC statement: Repetition of evil will lead to the realization of the common aspiration of the Islamic nation and free peoples to eradicate the cancerous gland of Zion.
IRGC statement: Any repetition of evil will accelerate the collapse of the US military establishment in the region.
IRGC statement: US bases and mobile military targets in the region are not a strength of this national defense, but rather a weakness.
IRGC statement: Iran will not leave any attack on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national security unanswered under any circumstances.
IRGC statement: This base is the headquarters of the Air Force and the largest strategic asset of the terrorist American army in the West Asia region.
IRGC statement: We targeted Al Udeid base in Qatar with a powerful and devastating missile attack as part of Operation Annunciation of Victory.
Explosions heard across Doha: AFP journalists
Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Qatar temporarily closes its airspace "for the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors."
Al Mayadeen: Israeli warplanes raid the outskirts of Al-Aishiya and Al-Mahmoudiya, Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Direct damage from Iranian bombing of "Israel" in one week is estimated at approximately 5 billion shekels (about $1.35 billion)

IAEA's Grossi: Nuclear accident could happen at any minute in Ukraine

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Jan 2023 11:54
3 Min Read

The ZNPP remains a tense point as Ukrainian forces keep targeting it.

  • x
  • IAEA chief Rafael Grossi at a press conference after an IAEA meeting on Ukraine at the HQ in Vienna (AP)
    IAEA chief Rafael Grossi at a press conference after an IAEA meeting on Ukraine at the HQ in Vienna (AP)

When asked during a press conference about the possibility of an accident at a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Ukraine, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi stated it could happen at any minute - if it wasn't surrounded by a safety zone.  

"It can happen any moment, any time. Today you can have a quiet situation, and the next day you can have shelling, and this has happened. And when shelling comes, or when the external power supplies are interrupted, and the reactors are no longer cooled, you can have a meltdown," Grossi replied to the journalist. 

ZNPP as a focal point

The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remains a tense point of focus in this regard as Ukrainian forces seem to keep targeting it even after it the region joined Russia this past fall in a referendum. 

It is the largest NPP in Europe with six power units and a capacity of 1 gigawatt each. It has been under Russian protection since March 2022, which was justified and validated by the Russian Foreign Ministry as a step to avoid nuclear and radioactive material leakage and spill. 

Related News

Russia affirms unbreakable ties with Iran, supports self-defense

Putin to Araghchi: Unprovoked aggression on Iran baseless, unjustified

Previous shelling by Ukrainian forces against the ZNPP has caused power outages and infrastructure damages. 

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated in light of Ukraine's constant targeting that it is the latter's way of painting a mirage of a nuclear disaster threat. Following that, the IAEA repeatedly stressed the need for a safety zone around the ZNPP.

On Monday, Grossi said that the agency will increase its presence in Ukraine to help avoid a nuclear accident amid the continuation of the Ukraine war.

"@IAEAorg is expanding its presence in #Ukraine to help prevent a nuclear accident during the ongoing conflict. I’m proud to lead this mission to [Ukraine], where we’re deploying in all of the country’s NPPs to provide assistance in nuclear safety & security," Grossi tweeted.

.@IAEAorg is expanding its presence in #Ukraine to help prevent a nuclear accident during the ongoing conflict. I’m proud to lead this mission to 🇺🇦, where we’re deploying in all of the country’s NPPs to provide assistance in nuclear safety & security. pic.twitter.com/hks7jMpLBj

— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) January 16, 2023

However, a senior official in the Zaporozhye regional government, Vladimir Rogov, said last month that the main requirement for establishing a security zone around the ZNPP should be the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops to a distance from which they will be unable to deliver strikes at the station.

"A protective dome is being mounted at the ZNPP over the storage facility for spent nuclear waste," Rogov also assured earlier on Telegram. The dome is designed to protect against fragments of shells and improvised explosive devices carried by drones, according to the official.

  • Russia
  • IAEA
  • Rafael Grossi
  • Ukraine
  • Zaporozhye
  • ZNPP

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Politics

Spain seeks immediate suspension of EU association pact with 'Israel'

Israeli settlers evacuate a building damaged in an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Tel Aviv streets ghostly; settlers flee under Iranian missile fire

Trump’s secret Iran strike uncovered in explosive CNN report
Politics

Behind the scenes: Trump's decision to strike Iran mapped - CNN

The oil tanker Palanca Rio arrives in Portland, Maine, the United States, Wednesday, April 2, 2025 (AP)
Economy

Oil prices spike as US-Israeli aggression on Iran sparks concerns

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS