The IAEA team at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) reported hearing multiple rounds of incoming and outgoing shelling near the site today. According to ZNPP, two shells landed approximately 1.25 kilometers from the plant’s perimeter. Director General @rafaelmgrossi stated that the shelling further increases nuclear safety risks at the plant, which has been without off-site power for nearly two weeks.
IAEA stands for the International Atomic Energy Agency.
It’s a United Nations-affiliated organization that works to:
- Promote the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technology,
- Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and
- Monitor nuclear programs to ensure compliance with international agreements.
The IAEA was established in 1957 and is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. It plays a crucial role in nuclear safety, non-proliferation, and scientific cooperation — for example, by inspecting nuclear facilities (like the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine) to ensure they operate safely and are not used for military purposes.
Here are some key facts about the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP / ZNPP / Zaporozhye NPP / Запорізька АЕС):
Basic and technical facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Situated near the city of Enerhodar, in southeastern Ukraine, on the bank of the Dnipro River (Kakhovka Reservoir) |
| Reactor units | 6 pressurized water reactors (VVER / PWR type) |
| Power output / capacity | Each reactor is generally rated around 1,000 MW (gross) under normal design conditions. |
| Commissioning period | The units were built and brought online between 1984 and 1995. |
| Contribution to Ukraine’s electricity | Before the full impact of the war, ZNPP supplied a significant share of Ukraine’s power—often cited as ~20 % of the country’s total, and close to half of Ukraine’s nuclear-generated electricity. |
| Ownership / operator | Operated by Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear operator. |
| Spent fuel and infrastructure | The site includes storage for used / spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials. |
