Shelling recorded near Zheleznodorozhny NPP: IAEA warns of risks

The IAEA observation mission operating on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported another dangerous situation – shelling continued in the area of the plant on September 17, and three columns of black smoke were seen above the surroundings.

This is stated in an official statement by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

“Despite the lack of reports of injuries or damage to the plant itself, the situation once again demonstrates serious risks to nuclear safety,” Grossi stressed.

According to information from ZNPP personnel, several artillery shells hit areas located approximately 400 meters from the diesel fuel storage facility, a facility that is critically important for the plant’s emergency power supply.

The strikes caused fires nearby, which have now been contained.

The IAEA team on site reported that gunfire was heard for two hours, from 13:26 to 15:30 local time, including targeted strikes near the facility. Smoke in the area outside the station was observed directly from the windows of the main administration building.

The agency’s inspectors have not yet had the opportunity to inspect the site of the hits. A visit to the area is scheduled for September 17, if the operational security situation allows.

“I have already emphasized that military activity near nuclear facilities is unacceptable. What until recently seemed impossible has become the terrible norm of this war. We cannot allow the risks of nuclear catastrophe to become commonplace. This must stop before it is too late,” the head of the IAEA said during his speech at the agency’s General Conference.

As a reminder, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has recorded critical nuclear safety violations at the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP . Instead, Russia is trying to shift responsibility for the dangerous situation onto Ukraine, using propaganda narratives.

As previously reported, a fire hazard has been recorded again at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP — this time in the cargo port area near the power units . Burning dry reeds at the site of the destroyed Kakhovka reservoir and smoke outside the protected perimeter of the station pose a direct threat to nuclear, radiation, and fire safety.

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