UN Raises Concerns Over Drone Activity at Russian Nuclear Plant

Drone Concerns

The United Nations has sounded alarms over the recent drone strikes on the Kursk nuclear power plant in Russia, underscoring the potential for a catastrophic nuclear incident as the war with Ukraine intensifies.

At a Glance

  • The UN’s nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, highlighted increased risk at the Kursk plant amid Ukraine’s military counteroffensive.
  • Evidence of drone strikes and the plant’s vulnerability due to the lack of a protective dome.
  • The Kursk plant continues to operate near normal conditions despite the conflict.
  • The UN emphasized the need for global attention to prevent further escalation and a possible nuclear disaster.

UN’s Nuclear Watchdog Raises Alarms

Rafael Grossi, chief of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has warned of heightened risks at Russia’s Kursk nuclear power plant. During his visit, Grossi observed evidence of drone strikes at the plant and emphasized its fragility due to the reactor’s lack of a protective dome, stating that the reactor core is only safeguarded by a standard roof.

https://www.politico.eu/article/un-international-atomic-energy-agency-rafael-grossi-nuclear-incident-russia-kursk-plant-drone-strikes-war-in-ukraine

Grossi’s warnings come amid Ukraine’s ongoing military counteroffensive in the region, which has heightened security concerns for the nuclear facility. The Kursk plant, located less than 50 kilometers from conflict zones, remains susceptible to artillery, drone, or missile strikes—necessitating urgent intervention to bolster its defenses.

Plant Operations Amid Conflict

Despite the ongoing military threats, the Kursk nuclear power station is maintaining operations close to normal. This underscores the resilience of the plant’s operational capabilities, even as security vulnerabilities remain prominent.

The director general of the UN Nuclear watchdog – IAEA – visited the Kursk nuclear power plant in Kuratchov town on Tuesday. Rafael Grossi said that he was shown remnants of a drone at the plant and the impact it had left. He warned of the risk of a nuclear accident at the Russian plant in the Kursk region. His visit comes a week after Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of attacking the plant amid its incursion. Ukraine is yet to respond to the allegations.”

Drone fragments were found near the plant’s spent nuclear fuel storage facility, raising alarms about the potential release of radioactive materials if similar attacks were to succeed. The IAEA’s emphasis on avoiding assaults on nuclear infrastructures is crucial in preventing any nuclear accidents.

International Urgency and Future Steps

Grossi highlighted the IAEA’s neutral stance and laid out five principles for nuclear safety intended for both Russian and Ukrainian factions to abide by. He reiterated that preventing a nuclear accident amidst the turbulent conflict is paramount and that the agency remains committed to upholding nuclear safety globally.

“The danger or the possibility of a nuclear accident has emerged near here,” Grossi told reporters. He added that during his visit to the plant he saw evidence of drone strikes in the area. “I was informed about the impact of the drones. I was shown some of the remnants of them and signs of the impact they had,” Grossi said, without saying who was responsible. “The core of the reactor containing nuclear material is protected just by a normal roof,” he said during his visit. “This makes it extremely exposed and fragile, for example, to an artillery impact or a drone or a missile.”

The UN’s critical warnings call for immediate global consideration to forestall a nuclear disaster. The conflict’s proximity to the Kursk plant renders it a precarious location that requires additional safety measures to shield its reactors and spent fuel storage.

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