A decrease in the water level in the Kakhov reservoir threatens the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhya NPP

Uncontrolled discharge of water at the Kakhovskaya HPP leads to a rapid decrease of water in the Kakhovskaya reservoir. This threatens safe work at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP. "Energoatom" reports about this.

Currently, the water level in the reservoir is 13.8 meters, against the normal level of 16 meters, which is necessary for the station to receive power for the turbine capacitors and safety systems. During the previous days, the level fell even more - to 13.7 and even 13.6 m. The lowering of the water level in the Kakhov reservoir is a new threat from the occupiers for the ZNPP.

I hope that the IAEA mission present there will control the situation and prevent a critical situation, - Petro Kotin said.

The president of Energoatom explained that currently the cooling pond is sufficiently full and for now there is enough water for the needs of the ZNPP, however, in case of a worsening of the situation and a further decrease in the water level, it will become a big problem for the plant. And he warned that the level of 12.8 m will be emergency, and 12 m - critical.

Grossi expressed hope for the creation of a safety zone around the Zaporizhzhia NPP

Last week, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, held talks with Russian high-ranking officials in Moscow regarding the agreement and implementation of a nuclear safety zone around the Zaporizhzhia NPP. He met with Oleksiy Likhachev, head of the Rosatom state nuclear company, the intergovernmental group of the Russian Federation, and representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is reported on the website of the IAEA, with a link to the "Energodar Media Center".

Both in Kyiv and in Moscow, we continue diplomatic work aimed at establishing the zone as soon as possible. Important in this regard were the meetings in Moscow, which allowed us to discuss the plan in detail with high-ranking representatives of the Russian government. I still hope that the zone will be created, although the progress should have been faster. For the sake of nuclear security in Ukraine and beyond, I will continue my efforts until the zone becomes a reality, - Grossi said.

The head of the agency added that the situation around Europe's largest nuclear power plant remains "unstable and unpredictable, as it is a zone of active hostilities." This state of affairs, according to Grossi, very clearly demonstrates the need for urgent measures to protect the station and the people who work there.

Separately, last week, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine informed the IAEA that it will allow the Zaporizhia NPP to resume electricity production only after returning it to the control of our state, as well as after a thorough inspection and implementation of measures necessary to restore safe operating conditions. The IAEA reminded that currently all six reactors of the station are in cold or hot shutdown mode.

We remind you that the Russian occupiers use the nuclear station to shell the city of Nikopol from there every day and kill civilians.