Russia proposes temporary cessation of fighting near Zaporizhzhia NPP – IAEA talks about risks
16 October 21:08
Russia has announced the possibility of a temporary cessation of hostilities near the occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP) to repair two damaged power lines.
This was reported bySky News with reference to the head of Rosatom Alexei Likhachev, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to him, it is a question of creating a so-called “quiet period” that would allow restoring one line in the occupied territory and the other in the government-controlled territory.
“This is a very difficult decision that requires a fair balance… Perhaps such a decision will be implemented tomorrow,” Likhachev said.
If the agreement is reached, it will be the first case of partial “freezing” of hostilities for technical purposes since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Why it is important
Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest in Europe and has been in a critically vulnerable state since the occupation.
The plant does not generate electricity, but needs external power to cool the reactors and store nuclear fuel.
Loss of external power is one of the most serious risks of a nuclear accident. According to the IAEA, since the beginning of the occupation, ZNPP has already experienced ten complete disconnections from the power grid.
on September 23, the latest accident occurred: at 16:56, the plant was disconnected from the only operating line connecting it to the Ukrainian power grid.
What is known about the seizure of ZNPP by Russians
Russian troops seized ZNPP in March 2022. Since then, the plant has been under the de facto control of Rosatom.
Ukraine has repeatedly warned that the occupiers are using the nuclear facility as a military shield, storing equipment on the plant’s territory and placing ammunition near the reactors.
The IAEA is constantly recording violations of basic nuclear safety principles, but has no authority to intervene directly.
In September, Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga said that Moscow was trying to involve the IAEA in legitimizing control over the plant.
According to Ukrainian power engineers, Russia is preparing to reconnect the nuclear power plant to its own power grid under the pretext of “testing the grid.”
What experts say
Analysts note that the “quiet period” initiative may be a political maneuver by Russia aimed at
- demonstrate “constructiveness” to the IAEA and the West;
- an attempt to consolidate the status quo regarding control over the station;
- creating preconditions for connecting ZNPP to the Russian power system without shelling.
At the same time, Kyiv insists that any technical or safety decisions should be made with the participation of Ukraine, as the plant is Ukrainian property located on the temporarily occupied territory.
The IAEA’s response
The IAEA is currently assessing the possibility of access to the repair areas for its experts. The agency confirms that the situation at ZNPP remains unstable: even a short-term power outage could lead to an accident due to the shutdown of cooling systems.
If the agreement on a “quiet period” is implemented, it could temporarily reduce the risk of an accident, but at the same time strengthen Russia’s position in international negotiations on the plant.
