IAEA preparing largest mission to Ukrainian energy facilities

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will send monitoring missions to 19 Ukrainian electrical substations on which the safe operation of nuclear power plants depends. This will be the largest deployment of missions of this type during the agency's work in Ukraine.

This was announced on Tuesday, October 13, by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha following a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Warsaw.

According to the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the parties discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which remains under Russian occupation, as well as nuclear safety threats related to the ongoing militarization of the facility.

One of the main results of the talks was the decision to expand international monitoring of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. IAEA experts will work at 19 electrical substations critical for the safe functioning of nuclear power plants.

"This will become the largest deployment of IAEA missions of this type to date and a timely step to ensure nuclear safety and physical nuclear security amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy system," Sybiha said.

The minister thanked Grossi for the decision and the agency's constant attention to the risks that Russian strikes pose to Ukrainian nuclear energy.

Electrical substations play an important role not only in transmitting electricity generated by nuclear power plants, but also in providing the plants with external power supply. This is necessary for the operation of safety systems, including when reactor units are shut down.

Damage to such facilities can disrupt the stability of power supply to nuclear power plants. That is why the IAEA considers reliable connection of nuclear power plants to the external power grid as one of the key conditions for preventing nuclear accidents.

The agency's monitoring missions are already working at Ukrainian energy facilities. In August, the Ministry of Energy reported the completion of the eighth special IAEA mission, during which experts examined 13 electrical substations important for nuclear and radiation safety.

During such visits, experts assess the technical condition of the infrastructure, the consequences of Russian attacks, the results of restoration work, and potential risks to the safe operation of nuclear power plants.

Expanding the missions to 19 facilities will allow the agency to increase the scale of independent monitoring. However, Sybiha did not name the specific dates for the deployment of the new missions.

Separately, the discussions addressed the continuation of humanitarian cooperation. Sybiha thanked the IAEA leadership, as well as the governments of Austria and Poland, for organizing a summer health program for children of Ukrainian nuclear industry workers.

The parties agreed to continue such initiatives aimed at supporting the families of Ukrainian nuclear workers.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, IAEA.