\n<\/p>\n
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday warned of the ongoing risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine following a recent surge in Russian airstrikes.<\/p>\n
“It is clear that the dangers to nuclear safety continue to be very real and ever-present. My teams report that this was the most intense day of air raid alarms they had experienced since late last year,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said during his one-day visit to Kiev.<\/p>\n
He said the agency’s presence at nuclear facilities remains essential to help prevent a nuclear incident. IAEA expert teams based at two of Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants had to take shelter up to three times during a day with an unusually high number of air raid warnings.<\/p>\n
Grossi also said it was critical to begin preparing for the future reconstruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, a process in which the IAEA could play an important role.<\/p>\n
The IAEA has played a central part in monitoring and safeguarding the condition and safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants since the start of Russia’s invasion.<\/p>\n
It regularly sends expert teams to the operating reactor sites in Rivne and Khmelnytskyi and has a permanent presence at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which has been occupied by Russian troops since 2022 and was shut down for safety reasons.<\/p>\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X that any Russian efforts to restart the Zaporizhzhya plant without Ukraine’s involvement were “absurd and dangerous” and called for unhindered IAEA access to the site.<\/p>\n
Ukraine relies on nuclear power for more than half of its electricity needs. Russia has repeatedly targeted the country’s power plants and energy infrastructure in an effort to disrupt supply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n