OdCNP Nuclear Security Monthly Update: October Report
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 02 November 2022 11:40
The Odesa Center for Nonproliferation is excited to release the "OdCNP Nuclear Security October Report" by Ali Alkis.
NUCLEAR SECURITY
October 2022 has witnessed a lot in terms of nuclear security developments. Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant still poses great nuclear security risks, undermining all nuclear security and safety measures.
At the beginning of the month, the whole world received information about the detention of Ihor Murashov, Director General of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been in contact with the relevant authorities and has been informed that Mr. Murashov is in temporary detention.
Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant director Ihor Murashov with Ukrainian security forces after his release. REUTERS
The IAEA, in line with its nuclear safety and security mandate, has been actively seeking clarifications and hopes for a prompt and satisfactory resolution of this matter. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterated that this detention has a very significant impact on at least two of the seven indispensable nuclear safety and security pillars that he outlined at the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine.
“Such a detention of any member of the plant staff would be a source of grave concern in itself, but also for its psychological impact and pressure on the rest of the staff - which is detrimental to nuclear safety and security”, added Director General Grossi.
Four days later, Murashov has been released thanks to the continuous efforts of the IAEA.
Following the detention, IAEA experts present at the ZNPP reported that several explosions were again heard in the vicinity of the plant. As with the previous explosions reported by the IAEA, they were believed to have been caused by landmines. The explosions did not result in any direct impact on the safety or security systems of the ZNPP.
The biggest NPP in Europe, ZNPP has lost its last remaining external power source repeatedly during October as a result of renewed shelling and was now relying on emergency diesel generators. The IAEA said that the plant’s link to a 750-kilovolt line was cut several times and cited official information from Ukraine as well as reports from IAEA experts at the site, which is occupied by Russian forces.
All six reactors at the plant are shut down but they still require electricity for cooling and other safety functions. Plant engineers have repaired the damaged power line and the plant’s generators — not all of which are currently being used — each has sufficient fuel for at least 10 days.
President Zelensky thanked Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi for his efforts and the continued support the IAEA has provided to Ukraine and its nuclear regulator. IAEA
Additionally, Director General Grossi has been engaging in intense consultations with both Ukraine and the Russian Federation to agree and implement a protection zone as soon as possible, because of shelling at or near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in recent weeks and months. The Director General met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg as part of the IAEA’s efforts to prevent a nuclear accident during the current military conflict in Ukraine, stressing the urgent need to establish a safety and security protection zone.
Concerning the zone, the G7 Nonproliferation Directors General of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union stated that they remain strongly concerned by the serious threats that Russia’s seizure and militarization of Ukraine’s ZNPP pose to the safety and security of this nuclear facility, its staff, and the region.
They also stated that they condemn Russia’s repeated kidnapping of Ukrainian ZNPP leadership and staff and denounce the application of other forms of pressure on remaining Ukrainian personnel. As these actions further impair the nuclear safety and security of the ZNPP by preventing key personnel from executing their indispensable functions, they highlighted that they strongly reject these reckless, cruel, and dangerous acts and demand the immediate release of those detained.
There was another intense situation in October with an unfounded claim in conversations with the countries’ defense ministers made by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. According to summaries of Shoigu’s calls posted by the Russian Ministry of Defense, he told defense officials Sunday that he was concerned about “possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a ‘dirty bomb,’ and noted that the situation in Ukraine is “rapidly deteriorating.” Following the calls, A Joint Statement on Ukraine was released by the Governments of the United States of America, France, and the United Kingdom by stating “We all reject Russia’s transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory.”
Source: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Director General Grossi said IAEA inspectors had begun – and would soon complete – verification activities at two locations in Ukraine, following a written request from the Ukraine government to send teams of inspectors there. Ukraine’s request was issued after the Russian Federation alleged claims related to the possible production of “dirty bombs” at the two locations, which are under IAEA safeguards and have been visited regularly by IAEA inspectors. The purpose of the safeguards visits is to detect any possible undeclared nuclear activities and materials related to the development of “dirty bombs”. The IAEA inspected one of the two locations a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activities or materials were found there.